Certificate-based encryption and public key infrastructure

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides methods for sending a digital message from a sender to a recipient in a public-key based cryptosystem comprising an authorizer. The authorizer can be a single entity or comprise a hierarchical or distributed entity. The present invention allows communication of messages by an efficient protocol, not involving key status queries or key escrow, where a message recipient can decrypt a message from a message sender only if the recipient possesses up-to-date authority from the authorizer. The invention allows such communication in a system comprising a large number (e.g. millions) of users.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/521,741, filed Jan. 18, 2005, incorporated herein by reference, which is the U.S. national stage of PCT application PCT/US03/26834, filed Aug. 28, 2003, incorporated herein by reference, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/406,721, filed Aug. 28, 2002, and 60/412,221, filed Sep. 20, 2002, both which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to cryptography and secure communication via computer networks or via other types of systems and devices, and more particularly to an improved method of implementation of public-key cryptography.

A user of a public-key cryptography based communication system communicates with another user by means of two different keys, a public key and a private key. A user's public key and private key form a public key/private key pair. A message sender communicates securely with a message recipient by encrypting a message using the recipient's public key. The sender then sends the message to the recipient who decrypts the message using the recipient's private key.

The security of messages sent to a user of a public-key based cryptography system depends on the security of the user's private key. Although the user's public key is freely available to other users, the user keeps its private key secret and known only to those privileged to receive messages sent to the user.

The implementation of public key cryptography requires an “infrastructure” to manage requirements such as key distribution and to certify for key validity. Before encrypting a message to a recipient, a message sender must have access to the recipient's public key. The sender must also confirm that this key is valid and not compromised.

In public-key cryptography systems, a trusted third party—the “certification authority” (CA) may perform functions such as key distribution and certification. Typically, the CA issues a “certificate” for each of its client users together with the CA's electronic signature to confirm the validity of the certificate. The certificate securely binds together several quantities. Usually, the certificate includes parameters such as the name of the client and the client's public key. Parameters such as the certificate's issue date and expiration date also may be included. By issuing a client's certificate, the CA attests that the associated public key is authentic and corresponds to the particular user for the validity period of the certificate.

Circumstances may require the revocation of a client's certificate before its intended expiration date. For example, revocation may be necessary if another party compromises the client's private key. Alternatively, the client may no longer be entitled to use the public key. If a certificate is revocable, then other users cannot rely on that certificate unless the CA distributes certification status information indicating that a certificate is currently valid. Such information must be up to date and distributed to all relying parties. Distributing such large amounts of information requires significant resources on the part of the CA and is a barrier to the widespread implementation of public-key cryptography.

The most well known—but inefficient—public-key infrastructure (PKI) proposal to address the key revocation issue is a certification revocation list (CRL). A CRL is a list of certificates revoked before their intended expiration date. The CA issues this list periodically together with its signature to confirm the validity of the CRL. Since the CA may revoke many certificates before their intended expiration date, the CRL may become very long, particularly if the CA has many clients. Each party requesting a certificate status check receives this list. Refinements to this approach require transmission of only those certificates revoked since the CA's last update. However, the transmission and infrastructure costs are still high.

An alternative proposal is the Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP). In this protocol, any user can query the CA as to the status of any client of the CA, including the validity of the client's public key. The CA responds to each query by generating a fresh signature on the certificate's current status. This proposal reduces transmission costs to a single signature per query. However, computation costs increase because a fresh signature is required in response to every query. Security also decreases because, if the CA is centralized, it becomes more vulnerable to denial-of-service (DoS) attacks.

A more promising protocol is the Micali “Novomodo” system. (S. Micali, Efficient Certificate Revocation, Proceedings of RSA Data Security Conference 1997; S. Micali, Novomodo: Scalable Certificate Validation and Simplified PKI Management, PKI Research Workshop, 2002). The Novomodo system involves a CA, one or more directories to distribute certificate information, and the users. However, it achieves better efficiency than CRLs and OCSP, without sacrifices in security. The advantage of Novomodo over a CRL-based system is that a directory's response to a certificate status query is concise compared to a CRL protocol whereas the length of a CRL grows with the number of certificates revoked. Novomodo has several advantages over OCSP. First, the CA's computational load is much lower. Second, unlike the distributed components of an OCSP, the directories in Novomodo need not be trusted. Third, Novomodo is less susceptible to DoS attacks. Finally, although the directory-to-user communication costs of OCSP are low, Novomodo's are typically even lower. However, Novomodo still requires certification status queries.

Many refinements to protocols involving certificate status queries attempt to reduce PKI computation and transmission requirements and offer a variety of tradeoffs. However, there are several reasons for eliminating, or at least reducing, certificate status inquiries. First, such inquiries may come from any user and concern any client. Hence, every CA server in the system must be able to determine the certificate status for every client of the CA. Second, certificate status queries from the client multiply the query processing costs of the CA. If each of N clients queries the status of 10 other clients each day, the CA must process 10N queries. Third, nonclient queries are undesirable from a business model perspective. It is unclear, economically, how the CA should handle queries from non-clients. Finally, as mentioned above, if the CA must respond to queries from non-clients, it becomes more susceptible to DoS attacks.

Identity-based cryptosystems eliminate third-party queries. Identity-based cryptosystems are public key cryptosystems in which the public key of a user derives from the user's identity (name, address, email address, IP address, etc.). A trusted third party generates a user's private key using the user's identity and a master secret held by the trusted third party. In such a system, a first user can encrypt a message to the second user without obtaining explicit information other than the second user's identifying information and parameters of the second user's CA. The second user can decrypt the message only if that user has received an updated private key from its CA.

The concept of an identity-based cryptosystem was proposed in A. Shamir, Identity-Based Cryptosystems and Signatures Schemes, ADVANCES IN CRYPTOGRAPHY—CRYPTO '84, Lecture Notes in Computer Science 196 (1984), Springer, 47-53. However, practical identity-based encryption schemes have not been found until recently. For instance, identity-based schemes were proposed in C. Cocks, An Identity-Based Encryption Scheme Based on Quadratic Residues, available at http://www.cesg.gov.uk/technology/id-pkc/media/ciren.pdf; D. Boneh, M. Franklin, Identity Based Encryption from the Weil Pairing, ADVANCES IN CRYPTOLOGY—CRYPTO 2001, Lecture Notes in Computer Science 2139 (2001), Springer, 213-229; and D. Boneh, M. Franklin, Identity Based Encryption from the Weil Pairing (extended version), available at http://www.cs.stanford.edu/˜dabo/papers/ibe.pdf. Cocks' scheme is based on the “Quadratic Residuosity Problem,” and although encryption and decryption are reasonably fast (about the speed of RSA), there is significant message expansion (i.e., the bit-length of the ciphertext is many times the bit-length of the plaintext). The Boneh-Franklin scheme bases its security on the “Bilinear Diffie-Hellman Problem,” and it is quite fast and efficient when using Weil or Tate pairings on supersingular elliptic curves or abelian varieties.

Existing identity-based cryptosystems, however, have had only limited acceptance. One major reason for this is that these systems involve key escrow. The CA knows all secrets in the cryptosystem because it generates the private keys of all users. As a result, existing identity-based cryptosystems have been vulnerable to passive attacks in which the CA, or any other party that discovers the master secret can determine shared secret of the two users.

There is a need for an efficient scheme allowing a recipient user of a cryptosystem to decrypt a secret message from a message sender only when a trusted third party certifies that the recipient holds a valid private key. Ideally, such a scheme should not require that the message sender query another party, including the third party, as to the status of the recipient's private key. Neither should such a scheme have the disadvantage of third party key escrow.

It therefore is an object of the present invention to provide an efficient protocol, not involving key status queries or key escrow, wherein a message recipient can decrypt a message from a message sender only if the recipient obtains authorization (e.g. up to date certification) from a third party. It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a protocol wherein the recipient's decryption ability is contingent upon authorization by several parties. Another object of the present invention is to provide such a protocol wherein the third party comprises a hierarchical authorization entity within the cryptosystem. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an efficient method of providing a user with a private key having a short validity period. It is a further object of the invention to provide such a protocol that allows such communication in a system comprising a large number (e.g. millions) of users.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides methods for implementing a secure and practical certificate-based encryption scheme.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the method provides for encoding and decoding a digital message between a sender and a recipient in a public-key encryption scheme including the sender, the recipient and an authorizer. The method includes the steps of generating a recipient public key/recipient private key pair and a recipient encryption key. A key generation secret that is a secret of the authorizer is selected. A recipient decryption key is generated using at least the key generation secret and the recipient encryption key where a key formed from the recipient decryption key and a key formed from the recipient encryption key are a public key/private key pair.

The digital message is encrypted using at least the recipient public key and the recipient encryption key to create an encrypted digital message. The encrypted digital message is decrypted using at least the recipient private key and the recipient decryption key.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for sending a digital message between a sender and a recipient in a public-key encryption system including a plurality of authorizers, the plurality of authorizers including at least a root authorizer and a lower-level authorizer in a hierarchy between the root authorizer and the recipient. The method includes the steps of generating a recipient public key/private key pair and a recipient encryption key, where the recipient encryption key is generated using identity information of at least one of the recipient's ancestors.

A root key generation secret is selected and a root key generation parameter generated based on the root key generation secret. A recipient decryption key is then generated such that the recipient decryption key is related to the recipient encryption key, the root key generation secret and the associated root key generation parameter.

The digital message is encrypted using the recipient public key and a recipient encryption key to create an encrypted digital message, where a key formed from the recipient decryption key and a key formed from the recipient encryption key are a public key/private key pair. The encrypted digital message is decrypted using at least the recipient private key and the recipient decryption key.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of generating a decryption key for an entity in an encryption system including a plurality of authorizers, the plurality of authorizers including at least a root authorizer and lower-level authorizers in the hierarchy between the root authorizer and the entity. The method included the steps of generating a root key generation secret and a root key generation parameter based on the root key generation secret. A lower-level key generation secret for the lower-level authorizers is generated. A lower-level key generation parameter for lower-level authorizers is then generated using at least the lower-level key generation secret for its associated lower-level authorizer.

A decryption key generation schedule is established defining a validity period for a decryption key for the entity. The decryption key for the entity is generated such that the decryption key is related to at least the root key generation secret and one or more of the lower-level key generation secrets.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of sending a digital message between a sender and a recipient in a public-key encryption scheme including the sender, the recipient and a plurality of authorizers, where the recipient can decrypt the digital message only if it possesses authorization from the authorizers. The method includes the steps of generating a recipient public key/private key pair for the recipient and a secret key for each of the authorizers. A public key is generated for each of the authorizers using at least the secret key for its associated authorizer. A string of binary digits is signed with the secret key to generate a signature for each of the authorizers.

The digital message is encrypted to form a ciphertext using at least the recipient's public key, the public keys of the authorizers, and the strings of binary digits signed by the authorizers. The encrypted digital message is decrypted using at least the recipient's private key, and the signatures generated by the authorizers.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of sending a digital message between a sender and a recipient in a public key encryption scheme comprising the sender, the recipient and a plurality of authorizers including at least a root authorizer and lower-level authorizers in the hierarchy between the root authorizer and the recipient, where the recipient can decode the digital message only if it possesses authorization from the authorizers. The method includes the steps of generating a recipient public key/private key pair for the recipient and a secret key for the root authorizer and each of the lower level authorizers. A public key is generated for the root authorizer and each of the lower level authorizers using at least the secret key for the associated authorizer.

Documents, each containing the public key of each of the lower level authorizers, are certified to generate a signature, where the document containing the public key of each lower level authorizer is certified by the authorizer above it in the hierarchy. A document comprising the recipient public key and a parameter determining the validity of the recipient public key is certified by the authorizer immediately above the recipient in the hierarchy.

The digital message is encrypted to form a ciphertext using at least the recipient's public key, the public keys of the authorizers, and the documents. The encrypted digital message is decrypted using at least the recipient's private key and the signatures generated by the authorizers.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of encrypting and decrypting a digital message between a sender and a recipient in a public-key encryption scheme including the sender, the recipient and an authorizer. The method includes the steps of generating a recipient public key/recipient private key pair and selecting a key generation secret known to the authorizer. A recipient decryption key associated with time period i is generated, where this key is related to the key generation secret and where recipient decryption keys associated with time periods earlier than i, but not those associated with time periods later than i, can be generated from the recipient decryption key associated with time period i.

The digital message is encrypted to form a ciphertext using the recipient public key, the time period parameter associated with time period i or a time period parameter associated with an earlier time period, and a recipient encryption key to create an encoded digital message. The encrypted digital message is decrypted using at least the recipient private key and the recipient decryption key associated with time period i.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of sending a digital message between a sender and a recipient in a public-key encryption scheme including the sender, a plurality of clients including the recipient, and an authorizer, where the digital message is encrypted by the sender and decrypted by the recipient when the recipient is authorized to do so by the authorizer. The method includes the steps of generating a recipient public key/recipient private key pair and a unique binary string associating the recipient with a leaf node in a B-tree. A unique binary string associated with each ancestor node of the recipient leaf node and an encryption key for the recipient leaf node and for each of the ancestor nodes for the recipient leaf node are also generated, as is a master secret known to the authorizer. The encryption key for each node is associated with at least the binary string associated with that node.

A recipient decryption key associated with an ancestor node of the recipient leaf node is generated, where the ancestor node is not an ancestor of a leaf node associated with a client not authorized by the authorizer. The recipient decryption key is associated with at least the binary string associated with that node and the master secret. The recipient decryption key associated with an ancestor node of the recipient leaf node forms a private key/public key pair with the encryption key associated with the ancestor node of the recipient leaf node.

The sender encrypts the digital message to create an encrypted digital message using at least the recipient public key, and the encryption keys associated with the recipient leaf node and ancestor nodes of the recipient leaf node. The recipient decrypts the encrypted digital message using at least the recipient private key and the recipient decryption key associated with an ancestor node of the recipient leaf node.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subsequent description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention refers to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram illustrating the steps performed by a message recipient according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram illustrating the steps performed by an authorizer according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram illustrating the steps performed by a message sender according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram illustrating a Hierarchical Certificate-Based Encryption scheme according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a flow diagram illustrating another Hierarchical Certificate-Based Encryption scheme according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram illustrating a typical hierarchical structure in which the method of FIG. 5 may be performed;

FIG. 7 shows a flow diagram illustrating a method of encoding and decoding a digital message M communicated between a sender y and a recipient z according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 shows a flow diagram illustrating a method of encoding and decoding a digital message M;

FIG. 9 shows a flow diagram illustrating a method of encoding and decoding a digital message M communicated between a sender y and a recipient z according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 shows a diagram illustrating a High-Granularity Encryption Scheme.

FIG. 11 shows a flow diagram illustrating a broadcast encryption scheme using a binary tree.

FIG. 12 shows a block diagram illustrating broadcast encryption scheme using the cover concept.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The methods of the invention provide efficient protocols allowing a sender in a cryptosystem to communicate a secret message to a recipient only when a trusted third party (the “authorizer”) certifies that the recipient should receive the message.

In the protocols described below, the names “sender” and “recipient” represent two users of a cryptosystem. Such a cryptosystem may include many users other than the sender and recipient. Specifically, the sender represents a first user who wishes to communicate a secret message to a second user, represented by the recipient. The message may contain any type of digital information, including session keys used with symmetric cryptography algorithms to secure message traffic.

The term “Certification Authority (CA)” represents the entity responsible for managing the public-key infrastructure of the cryptosystem. The major functions of the CA may include the generation and distribution of digital certificates as well as public keys. The CA may be a single entity or may consist of a distributed or hierarchical structure of entities.

The term “authorizer” represents a third party trusted by a message sender using the cryptosystem to certify that a message recipient has authority to receive a message encrypted to a message recipient. The authorizer may be a single entity or may consist of a distributed or hierarchical structure of entities. In many systems, the authorizer and the CA will be the same entity. However, this will not always be so. The message recipient's ability to decrypt a message can be contingent on authorization from any specified entity or entities.

The term “certificate” represents an identifier used by individual users of the cryptosystem to identify and authenticate themselves to other users. A certificate has certain attributes that enable users to trust the information contained in the certificate. Typically, a certificate consists of a digital signature on a document containing information such as the identity of the certificate owner, the public key of the certificate owner, the identity of the CA, an issue date, an expiration date, a serial number, and a parameter allowing users to verify that the certificate is genuine and valid. To verify the certificate, the verifier must know the document signed. This information is often sent with the certificate

The term “public-key cryptosystem” represents a cryptosystem wherein a sender sends an encrypted message to a recipient. The sender encrypts the message using the recipient's public key. The recipient decrypts the encrypted message using the recipient's private key. Such a public key and private key form a “public key/private key pair”. It is computationally infeasible to determine the recipient's private key from knowledge of the recipient's public key. Examples of public-key cryptosystems are the RSA Cryptosystem, in which the security of the private key is related to the difficulty of factoring large integers, and the ElGamal Cryptosystem, in which the security of the private key is related to the discrete logarithm problem. The term “form a public key/private key pair” will be understood by those skilled in the art to include a situation where the definitions of the public and private keys are redefined but the overall ability of the keys to encrypt and decrypt messages in maintained.

The terms “tree” and “B-tree” represent data structures that maintain an ordered set of data. A B-tree consists of “nodes”, “leafs”, and pointers connecting the nodes and leafs together. A “root node” defines the base, or first level, of the B-tree. A pointer connects the root node to each of a second level of nodes. The second level nodes are the child nodes of the root node. The root node is the parent node of the second level nodes. Further pointers may connect each of the second level nodes to their own child nodes and so on. “Leaf” nodes are the highest level of nodes of the B-tree. The leaf nodes are the child nodes of the next to highest level nodes and have no children of their own. Those nodes connecting a node to the root node, including the root node itself, are termed the ancestor nodes of this node.

The term “binary tree” represents a B-tree in which every node, except the leaf nodes, has at most two children.

The term “2-3 tree” represents a B-tree in every interior node has two or three children.

The term “Merkle tree” represents a B-tree whose nodes store values, some of which computed by means of a one-way function H, for example, a one-way hash function, in a specified manner. A leaf node can store any value, but each internal node should store a value that is the one-way function of the concatenation of the values in its children. For example, if an internal node has a two children, one storing the value U and the other storing a value V, then this node stores the value H(UV)).

Certificate-Based Encryption

The present invention describes “certificate-based encryption (CBE)” schemes where the ability of a message recipient user of a cryptosystem to decrypt a secret message from a message sender is contingent on the authorization of one or more trusted authorizers. The message recipient needs at least two keys to decrypt a message. One of these keys is a signature by one or more authorizers on one or more documents. The CBE protocols of the invention include a public-key encryption scheme and an adapted Identity-Based Encryption (IBE) scheme. Such protocols allow for CBE schemes including large numbers of users (e.g. millions of users) without destroying the algebraic structure necessary for CBE. In the protocols described below, a sender communicates an encrypted message to a recipient.

In the public-key encryption scheme, an entity, e.g. the recipient, generates a public key/private key pair (PK_(B), SK_(B)) for the recipient. The recipient's public key is available to other users of the cryptosystem, including the sender. The other users can use this key to encrypt messages sent to the recipient. The recipient keeps the recipient private key secret and uses this key to decrypt messages encrypted with the recipient's public key.

A CBE protocol may incorporate any IBE scheme. An IBE scheme uses a trusted third party called a Private Key Generator (PKG). To set up, the PKG generates a master secret s, and publishes certain system parameters params that include a public key that masks s. The PKG may have many clients. Each client has some ID, which is simply a string that identifies it—e.g., the client's email address. The main algorithms in an IBE scheme are Private Key Generation, Encryption, and Decryption.

In the Private Key Generation algorithm, the PKG uses s, params and ID to compute a private key d_(ID) corresponding to a given ID string. The message sender then uses the Encryption algorithm to compute the ciphertext C for the message M, using params, ID, and M. The message recipient used params, d_(ID), and C to recover M.

In an IBE scheme adapted to implement a CBE scheme, the authorizer generates a recipient “decryption key” using a key generation secret that is a secret of the authorizer. The decryption key forms a public key/private pair with a recipient “encryption” key. In one embodiment, the recipient decryption key is a signature on the recipient encryption key generated using the key generation secret. The message sender encrypts a digital message using the recipient public key and the recipient encryption key to create an encrypted digital message. The recipient decrypts the encrypted digital message using the recipient private key and the recipient decryption key. Since the sender encrypts the message using both the recipient public key and the recipient encryption key, the recipient needs both the recipient private key and recipient decryption key to decrypt the encrypted message. Because both keys are required, the recipient decryption key need not be kept secret. For example, since the recipient decryption key is in fact a signature by one or more authorizers, the decryption can be treated as a signature; it can be used as verifiable proof that the recipient has received appropriate authorization.

In general, the encryption key can correspond to a document D and the decryption key to the signature s_(D), the authorizer's signature on the document D using s, the authorizer's key-generation secret. If the decryption key, and hence the encryption key, are updated using a schedule known to the message sender, the sender can encrypt a message that the recipient can decrypt only when the recipient receives a decryption key corresponding to the encryption key used to encrypt the message.

The above scheme reduces the infrastructure overhead on the cryptosystem by avoiding the need for the sender to query to ensure that the recipient's private key is not compromised. The sender merely must know encryption key and the schedule on which the authorizer issues a new decryption key to the recipient. Without an up-to-date decryption key, an attacker knowing the recipient's private key cannot decrypt messages intended for the recipient. Thus, the CBE scheme allows the recipient's authorization to decrypt messages to be revoked if, for example, the recipient's private key is compromised. In such a situation, the authorizer stops issuing decryption keys to the recipient.

The scheme offers the additional advantage that it does not require the transmission of decryption keys to the recipient over a secure channel. Because decryption is not possible without the recipient's private key and the decryption key, the recipient need not keep the decryption key secret.

Because the authorizer knows the decryption key, it can decrypt messages encrypted by the encryption key. However, the sender avoids key escrow by doubly encrypting messages to the recipient using both the recipient's public key and encryption key. The authorizer cannot decrypt the message because it does not know the recipient's private key.

Although the encryption key can correspond to any document D, in many situations this document comprises parameters such as the recipient's identifying information (PK_(IDB)), including the recipient's public key (PK_(B)), and a parameter depending on the schedule by which the authorizer issues new decryption keys.

In a CBE scheme, the recipient's encryption key, the recipient's public key, and a parameter describing the schedule by which the authorizer issues new decryption keys are distributed to users of the cryptosystem, including the sender. The recipient can perform this function. Alternatively, a trusted third party, for example the CA or the authorizer, may perform the distribution.

Validity Period and Revocation

If the sender encrypts a message to the recipient using an encryption key that is valid for the current year, the recipient may use the corresponding decryption key for decryption during the current year. After this period, the recipient must obtain a new key from the authorizer. Likewise, if the sender encrypts a message using an encryption key that is valid for the current day, the recipient must obtain a new decryption key every day. Using this approach, a system may be created in which key revocation is automatic after any particular desired time-period. Similarly, the structure of the encryption may be such that the recipient can decrypt a message from a sender only at a pre-determined future time.

Other parameters, such as the recipient's security level, may also be included in the encryption key. If the sender encrypts a message using both a time parameter and a security level parameter, the recipient can decrypt the message only if the recipient has an up-to-date decryption key that specifies the required security level parameter. If the recipient's security level changes, the recipient will not be able to decrypt the sender's message.

A Pairing-Based CBE Scheme

A CBE scheme may incorporate any IBE scheme. Examples of such schemes are those based on Weil or Tate pairings associated with elliptic curves or abelian varieties. One embodiment of a CBE scheme of the present invention is described below. This embodiment uses the Boneh-Franklin IBE scheme and an identity-based encryption key comprising parameters such as the recipient's identifying information (PK_(IDB)), including the recipient's public key (PK_(B)), and a parameter depending on the schedule by which the authorizer issues new decryption keys. This embodiment is efficient and is provably secure (in the random oracle model) against adaptive chosen ciphertext attack.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram illustrating the steps taken by a message recipient during a setup phase. This setup phase occurs before the recipient decrypts an encrypted message. In block 101, the recipient generates a public key/private key pair using a public-key cryptography protocol. In block 102, the recipient generates identifying information. In block 103, the recipient communicates identifying information, including the recipient's public key, to other users, including the message sender, and the authorizer.

FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram illustrating the steps taken by the authorizer during parameter setup and recipient certification. As used in the CBE scheme, the Boneh-Franklin IBE scheme generally includes four randomized algorithms: setup, certification, encryption, and decryption. Here, the authorizer is the equivalent of the Private Key Generator (PKG) in the conventional IBE scheme.

During setup, the authorizer uses a BDH parameter generator and a security parameter k to generate groups

and

of some prime order q and an admissible pairing ê:

×

→

. The pairing is defined as being admissible if it is bilinear: ê(aQ, bR)=ê(Q, R)^(ab) for all Q, R∈

and all a, b ∈

; non-degenerate: the mapping does not send all pairs in

×

to the identity in

; and computable: there is an efficient algorithm to compute ê(Q, R) for any Q, R∈

.

The Boneh-Franklin IBE scheme based on pairings, such as, for instance, the Weil or Tate pairings associated with elliptic curves or abelian varieties. The methods base their security on the Bilinear Diffie-Hellman problem. Here, the first group

preferably is a group of points on an elliptic curve or abelian variety, and the group law on

may be written additively. The second group

preferably is a multiplicative subgroup of a finite field, and the group law on

may be written multiplicatively. However, other types of groups may be used as

and

consistent with the present invention.

The Bilinear Diffie-Hellman problem is that of finding ê(P, P)^(abc) if P, aP, bP, and cP are known, but a, b, and c are not known. Solving the Diffie-Hellman problem in

solves the Bilinear Diffie-Hellman problem because ê(P, P)^(abc)=ê(abP, cP). Similarly, solving the Diffie-Hellman problem in

solves the Bilinear Diffie-Hellman problem because, if g=ê(P, P), then g^(abc)=(g^(ab))^(c) where g^(ab)=ê(aP, bP) and g^(c)=ê(P, cP). For instance, suppose E is a supersingular elliptic curve or abelian variety over a finite field F; suppose P∈E(f) is a point of order

(relatively prime to the characteristic of F); and suppose ê is the Weil pairing on the

-torsion on E. Let

be the group generated by P, and let

be the group of

-th roots of unity in the algebraic closure of F. If f is an automorphism of E such that f(P) ∉

, then defining ê:

×

→

by ê(Q, R)=e(Q, f(R)) gives a function ê that satisfies the two conditions set forth above. Further, this ê is non-degenerate. For instance, if ê(aP, bP)=ê(P, cP), then abP=cP.

In blocks 201 and 202 of FIG. 2, the authorizer selects a key generation secret and establishes system parameters by choosing an arbitrary generator P∈

, picking a random s_(c)∈

/q

, setting Q=s_(c)P, and choosing cryptographic functions H₁: {0,1}*→

, H_(1′): {0,1}*→

and H₂:

→{0,1}^(n) for some n. Here, the message space is

={0,1}^(n), the system parameters are params=(

,

, ê, P, Q, H₁, H_(1′), H₂), and the authorizer's master key generation secret is s_(c)∈

/q

.

In block 203, the authorizer certifies identifying information sent by the recipient, including the recipient's public key s_(B)P where s_(B) is the recipient's private key. In block 204, the authorizer establishes a schedule updating the recipient's identity-based decryption key. If verification is satisfactory, the authorizer generates the identity-based decryption key. The authorizer computes P_(B)=H₁(Inf_(B))∈

, where Inf_(B) includes the recipient's identifying information (including the public key) and ancillary information such as a validity period, and P′_(B)=H_(1′)(ID_(rec)), where ID_(rec) comprises the public key of the recipient. In block 205, the authorizer then computes the recipient's identity-based decryption key s_(c)P_(B) and sends this information to the recipient. The authorizer may also distribute the recipient's identifying information to other users as in block 206. Alternatively, another entity may perform this function.

FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram illustrating the steps taken by the sender during encryption of a message. In blocks 301 and 302, the message sender obtains the recipient's public key and the system parameters. In block 303, the sender obtains the recipient's identity-based encryption key comprising the recipient's identifying information and the ancillary information, including the authorizer's identity-based decryption key generation schedule.

In block 304, the sender doubly encrypts the message M∈

with both s_(B)P and Inf_(B) as follows. Initially, the sender computes P_(B)=H₁(Inf_(B))∈

, P′_(B)=H_(1′)(ID_(rec)), wherein ID_(rec) comprises the public key of the recipient, and then chooses a random r∈

/q

. The sender then sets the ciphertext to be:

C=[rP,M⊕H ₂(g ^(r))], where g=ê(Q,P _(B)){circumflex over (e)}(s _(B) P,P′ _(B))∈

In block 305, the sender sends the message to the recipient.

Let the ciphertext received by the recipient be C=[U,V]. During decryption, the recipient recovers M using SK_(B) and s_(c)P_(B). Specifically, the recipient first computes S_(B)=s_(C)P_(B)+s_(B)P′_(B) and then computes:

V⊕H ₂(ê(U,S _(B)))=M.

CBE can be made secure in the random oracle model against adaptive chosen-ciphertext attack by using, for example, the Fujisaki-Okamoto transform in a manner similar to that described for IBE by D. Boneh, & M. Franklin, (2001). The transformed scheme uses two additional cryptographic functions H₃ and H₄ and a semantically symmetric encryption scheme E_(H4(σ)). H₃ is a function capable of generating an integer of the cyclic group

/q

from two strings of binary digits and H₄ is a function capable of generating one binary string from another binary string. _(H4(σ)) is the key used with E.

In the transformed scheme, the message sender chooses a random σ∈{0,1}^(n) and sets r=H₃(σ,M). The sender then sets the ciphertext to be: C=[rP, σ⊕H₂(g^(r)), E_(H4(σ))(M)] where g=ê(Q, P_(B))ê(s_(B)P, P′_(B))∈

.

The message recipient decrypts [U,V,W] by computing σ=V⊕H₂(ê(U,s_(C)P_(B))) and M=H_(H4(σ)) ⁻¹(W). The recipient also sets r=H₃(σ,M) and rejects the ciphertext if U≠rP.

Hierarchical CBE

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a CBE scheme combines a Hierarchical Identity Based Encryption (HIDE) scheme and a public-key encryption scheme. As in the non-hierarchical scheme discussed above, the encryption key can correspond to any document D. In the following description, the key is comprised to parameters such as the recipient's identifying information (PK_(IDB)), including the recipient's public key (PK_(B)), and a parameter describing the schedule by which the authorizer issues new decryption keys.

A hierarchical identity-based key sharing scheme with partial collusion-resistance is described in G. Hanaoka, T. Nishioka, Y. Zheng, H. Imai, An Efficient Hierarchical Identity-Based Key-Sharing Method Resistant Against Collusion Attacks, ADVANCES IN CRYPTOGRAPHY—ASIACRYPT 1999, Lecture Notes in Computer Science 1716 (1999), Springer 348-362; and G. Hanaoka, T. Nishioka, Y. Zheng, H. Imai, A Hierarchical Non-Interactive Key-Sharing Scheme With Low Memory Size and High Resistance Against Collusion Attacks, to appear in THE COMPUTER JOURNAL. In addition, an introduction to hierarchical identity-based encryption was provided in J. Horwitz, B. Lynn, Toward Hierarchical Identity-Based Encryption, to appear in ADVANCES IN CRYPTOGRAPHY-EUROCRYPT 2002, Lecture Notes in Computer Science. Springer. Horwitz and Lynn proposed a two-level hierarchical scheme with total collusion-resistance at the first level and partial collusion-resistance at the second level (i.e., users can collude to obtain the secret of their domain PKG and thereafter masquerade as that domain PKG). However, the complexity of the Horwitz-Lynn system increases with the collusion-resistance at the second level, and the scheme therefore cannot be both practical and secure.

Secure and practical HIDE schemes are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/384,328, the contents of which are incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

The present hierarchical CBE (HCBE) scheme adapts the HIDE scheme to CBE, and it includes six randomized algorithms: Root Setup, Lower-level Setup, Certification, Extraction, Encryption, and Decryption. Four of these algorithms rely upon the identities of the relevant entities in the hierarchy. Each user preferably has a position in the hierarchy that may be defined by its tuple of IDs: (ID₁, . . . , ID_(t)). The user's ancestors in the hierarchy are the root authorizer and the lower level authorizers whose ID-tuples are {(ID₁, . . . , ID_(i)): 1≦i≦t−1}. Preferably, binary strings represent the ID-tuples for purposes of computations.

The Root Setup algorithm is similar to that for the non-hierarchical scheme described above. The root authorizer uses a security parameter k to generate public system parameters params and a root key generation secret in the same manner as the authorizer in a non-hierarchical scheme. Again, the system parameters will be publicly available, but only the root authorizer will know the root key generation secret.

In the Lower-level Setup algorithm, lower-level authorizers may retrieve the system parameters from the root authorizer. Unlike the root authorizer, the lower-level authorizers do not have “lower-level” parameters used in the Encryption algorithm. However, this constraint does not necessarily preclude a lower-level authorizer from generating its own lower-level secret, which it may use to generate and issue identity-based decryption keys to its users. A lower-level authorizer may generate its own lower-level key generation secret for purposes of extraction. Alternatively, a lower-level authorizer may generate random one-time secrets for each extraction.

In the Extraction algorithm, a parent authorizer (whether the root authorizer or a lower-level authorizer) verifies identifying information sent by a child authorizer immediately below it in the hierarchy. The parent authorizer may also establish a schedule for update of the child authorizer's recipient's identity-based decryption key. If verification is satisfactory, the parent authorizer generates an identity-based decryption key for the child authorizer. As in the non-hierarchical scheme, this identity-based decryption key is generated using the system parameters, the child authorizer's identifying information and ancillary information such as a validity period. The child authorizer's identity-based decryption key is also related to the key generation secret of at least one ancestral authorizer. The parent authorizer then sends this decryption to the child authorizer. The child authorizer's identifying information is available to other users.

In the Certification algorithm, a signing authorizer having at least one ancestor in the hierarchy certifies identifying information sent by the recipient, including the recipient's public key PK_(B). The authorizer also establishes a schedule for update of the recipient's identity-based decryption key. If verification is satisfactory, the authorizer generates an identity-based decryption key SK_(HIDB) for the recipient. As in the non-hierarchical scheme, key SK_(HIDB) is generated using the system parameters, the recipient's identifying information (including the public key) and ancillary information such as a validity period. SK_(HIDB) is also related to the key generation secret of at least one ancestral authorizer. The authorizer then sends key SK_(HIDB) to the recipient. The recipient's identifying information Inf_(B) is available to other users.

In the Encryption algorithm, a sender doubly encodes a message M to an intended recipient using both the intended recipient's public key PK_(B) and params and the recipient's identity-based encryption key, comprising information included in Inf_(B) and the ID-tuple of the intended recipient.

Conversely, in the Decryption algorithm, the recipient decodes the ciphertext C to recover the message M using the recipient's private key SK_(B) and identity-based decryption key (SK_(HIDB)).

Pairing Based Hierarchical CBE

One embodiment of the HCBE scheme of the present invention is based on pairings, such as, the Weil or Tate pairings associated with elliptic curves or abelian varieties, and on the Bilinear Diffie-Hellman problem described above.

FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram illustrating a method of encoding and decoding a digital message in a HIDE system including a plurality of authorizers according to one embodiment of the invention. The authorizers include at least a root authorizer and n lower-level authorizers in the hierarchy between the root authorizer and the recipient, wherein n≧1. In block 402, the root authorizer selects a root key generation secret known only to the root authorizer. The root authorizer then generates a root key generation parameter based on the root key generation secret in block 404. The lower-level authorizers select lower-level key generation secrets in block 406. Like the root key generation secret, each of the lower-level key generation secrets is known only to its associated lower-level authorizer. In block 408, lower-level key generation parameters are generated for each of the n lower-level authorizers. Each of the lower-level key generation parameters is generated using at least the lower-level key generation secret for its associated lower-level authorizer. Like the root key generation parameter, each of the lower-level key generation parameters masks its associated lower-level key generation secret.

Using at least one of the key generation parameters and the recipient identity-based encryption key, the sender encodes the message in block 410 to form a ciphertext. For instance, the sender may encode the message using only the root key generation parameter and the recipient's public key. Alternatively, the sender may use one of the lower-level key generation parameters, as described in more detail below with respect to dual-HCBE schemes. In block 412, a lower-level authorizer generates an identity-based decryption key for the recipient such that the identity-based decryption key is related to at least one of the n lower-level key generation secrets. For instance, the recipient's identity-based decryption key preferably is related at least to the lower-level key generation secret of the authorizer that issued the identity-based decryption key to the recipient. Alternatively, the recipient's identity-based decryption key may be related to all n of its ancestral authorizer's lower-level key generation secrets, as well as the root key generation secret. In block 414, the recipient uses at least its identity-based decryption key and its private key to decode the ciphertext and recover the message.

Each lower-level authorizer has a key generation secret, just like the root authorizer. As described above, a lower-level authorizer preferably uses this secret to generate a private key for each of its children, just as the root authorizer does. However, the lower-level authorizers need not always use the same secret for each identity-based decryption key extraction. Rather, a new key generation secret may be generated randomly for each of the authorizer's clients.

Because a lower-level authorizer is able to generate an identity-based decryption key for the recipient (block 412), the root authorizer need not generate all of the identity-based decryption keys itself. In addition, because the lower-level authorizers use their own key generation secrets to generate identity-based decryption keys for their clients, compromising a lower-level key generation secret causes only limited security damage to the hierarchy. Rather than compromising all of the identity-based decryption keys in the hierarchy, a breach of a lower-level authorizer compromises only those identity-based decryption keys that were generated using that authorizer's key generation secret (i.e., only the identity-based decryption keys of those users that are direct hierarchical descendants of the compromised authorizer).

Another advantage of this embodiment is that the sender need not be in the hierarchy to send an encoded message to the recipient. The sender merely needs to know the identity of the recipient, the recipient's public key and the system parameters generated by the root authorizer. There are, however, certain additional advantages of the HIDE schemes of the present invention that become available when the sender is within the hierarchy. For instance, when both the sender and the recipient are in the hierarchy, using the identities of both parties improves the efficiency of the message encryption. This type of HCBE scheme is called dual-HCBE because the identities of both the sender and the recipient are used as input for the encryption and decryption algorithms. A method of encoding and decoding a message using a dual-HCBE scheme is now discussed with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 5 shows a flow diagram illustrating a method of encrypting and decrypting message between a sender y and a recipient z according to another embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6 shows a block diagram illustrating a typical hierarchical structure. Like the previous embodiment, this method is performed in a HCBE system including at least a root authorizer 602 and n lower-level authorizers 604 a,b,d in the hierarchy between the root authorizer 602 and the recipient z 608, wherein n≧1. The sender y 606 in this embodiment also must be in the hierarchy, and the hierarchy also includes m lower-level authorizers 604 a,b,c between the root authorizer 602 and the sender y 606, wherein m≧1. Of the m authorizers 604 a,b,c between the root authorizer 602 and the sender y 606, and the n authorizers 604 a,b,d between the root authorizer 602 and the recipient z 608, there are l authorizers 604 a,b that are common ancestors to both the sender y 606 and the recipient z 608, wherein 1≧l<m, n. For instance, FIG. 6 shows two of these l common ancestral authorizers (CA_(y1)/CA_(z1) 604 a and CA_(yl)/CA_(zl) 604 b).

The method of this embodiment begins in block 502, when the root authorizer 602 selects a root key generation secret known only to the root authorizer. The root authorizer 602 then generates a root key generation parameter based on the root key generation secret in block 504. The lower-level authorizers 604 a-d select lower-level key generation secrets in block 506. Like the root key generation secret, each of the lower-level key generation secrets is known only to its associated lower-level authorizer 604 a-d. In block 508, lower-level key generation parameters are generated for each of the n lower-level authorizers 604 a-d. Each of the lower-level key generation parameters is generated using at least the lower-level key generation secret for its associated lower-level authorizer 604 a-d.

In block 510, the sender's parent CA_(ym) 604 c generates an identity-based decryption key for the sender y 606 such that the identity-based decryption key is related to at least one of the m lower-level key generation secrets associated with the m lower-level authorizers 604 a,b,c between the root authorizer 602 and the sender y 606. For instance, the sender's identity-based decryption key preferably is related at least to the lower-level key generation the sender's parent CA_(ym) 604 c. Alternatively, the sender's identity-based decryption key may be related to all m of its direct ancestral authorizers' lower-level key generation secrets, as well as the root key generation secret. The sender's identity-based encryption key can correspond to any document D, but, in the following description, the key comprises parameters such as the sender's identifying information (PK_(IDA)), including the sender's public key (PK_(A)), and a parameter describing the schedule by which the authorizer issues new decryption keys. In block 512, the recipient's parent CA_(zn) 604 d generates an identity-based decryption key for the recipient z in a similar manner that the sender's parent CA_(ym) 604 c used to generate the sender's identity-based decryption key. As in HCBE, the recipient's identity-based encryption key can correspond to any document D, but, in the following description, the key comprises parameters such as the recipient's identifying information (PK_(IDB)), including the recipient's public key (PK_(B)), and a parameter describing the schedule by which the authorizer issues new decryption keys.

In block 514, the sender y encodes the message to form a ciphertext. It uses at least the recipient's public key, the sender's identity-based decryption key and one or more of the lower-level key generation parameters associated with the (m−l+1) authorizers (i.e., CA_(yl), 604 b and CA_(ym) 604 c) between the root authorizer 602 and the sender y 606 that are at or below the level of the lowest ancestor authorizer (CA_(yl)/CA_(zl) 604 b) that is common to both the sender y 606 and the recipient z 608. In encoding the message, the sender y 606 preferably does not use any of the lower-level key generation parameters that are associated with the (l−1) authorizers (i.e., CA_(y1) 604 a) that are above the lowest common ancestor authorizer (CA_(yl)/CA_(zl) 604 b). Again, the lower-level key generation parameters are related to the recipient's identifying information and the ancillary information, including the authorizer's identity-based decryption key generation schedule.

The recipient z 608 then decodes the ciphertext to recover the message in block 516. It uses at least the recipient's private key, the recipient's identity-based decryption key and one or more of the lower-level key generation parameters associated with the (n−l+1) authorizers (i.e., CA_(zl), 604 b and CA_(zn) 604 c) between the root authorizer 602 and the recipient z 608 that are at or below the level of the lowest ancestor authorizer (CA_(yl)/CA_(zl) 604 b) that is common to both the sender y 606 and the recipient z 608. In decoding the message, the recipient y 606 preferably does not use any of the lower-level key generation parameters that are associated with the (l−1) authorizers (i.e., CA_(z1) 604 a) that are above the lowest common ancestor authorizer (CA_(yl)/CA_(zl) 604 b).

The dual-HCBE embodiment of the invention provides a more efficient scheme for encoding and decoding the message because it requires the use of fewer key generation parameters. For instance, decoding in a regular HCBE scheme preferably requires all n of the key generation parameters, decoding in a dual-HCBE scheme preferably requires only (n−l) of the key generation parameters. Dual-HCBE schemes require that the sender y 606 obtain its identity-based decryption key before sending an encoded message to the recipient z 608, as opposed to merely obtaining the public system parameters of the root authorizer.

The dual-HCBE schemes also enable the sender y 606 and the recipient z 608 to use a limited form of key escrow, as described more fully below. This shared secret is unknown to third parties other than their lowest common ancestor CA_(yl)/CA_(zl) 604 b. However, the CBE schemes of the present invention avoid key escrow entirely. Nevertheless, dual-HCBE continues to offer the advantages of shorter ciphertext length and decryption time.

FIG. 7 shows a flow diagram illustrating a method of encoding and decoding a digital message M communicated between a sender y and a recipient z according to another embodiment of the invention. The recipient z 608 is n+1 levels below the root authorizer in the hierarchy, as shown in FIG. 6, and is associated with the ID-tuple (ID_(z1), . . . , ID_(z(n+1))). The recipient's ID-tuple includes identity information ID_(zi) associated with the recipient, as well as identity information ID_(zi) associated with each of its n ancestral lower-level authorizers in the hierarchy.

The method begins in block 702 by generating the first and second cyclic groups

and

of elements. In block 704, a function ê is selected such that the admissible pairing ê is capable of generating an element of the second cyclic group

from two elements of the first cyclic group

. A root generator P₀ of the first cyclic group

is selected in block 706. In block 708, a random root key generation secret s₀ associated with and known only to the root authorizer 602 is selected. Preferably, s₀ is an element of the cyclic group

/q

. A root key generation parameter Q₀=s₀P₀ is generated in block 710. Preferably, Q₀ is an element of the first cyclic group

. In block 712, a first function H₁ is selected such that H₁ is capable of generating an element of the first cyclic group

from a first string of binary digits. For simplicity, only one function capable of generating an element of the first cyclic group

from a first string of binary digits needs to be used, but several different functions of this type may be used at different points in the algorithm. A second function H₂ is selected in block 714, such that H₂ is capable of generating a second string of binary digits from an element of the second cyclic group

. The functions of blocks 702 through 714 are part of the non-hierarchical and HCBE Root Setup algorithms described above, and can be performed at about the same time.

The next series of blocks (blocks 716 through 724) show the functions performed as part of Lower-level Setup algorithm. In block 716, a element P_(zi) is generated for each of the recipients' n ancestral lower-level authorizers. Each of the elements, P_(zi)=H₁(ID₁, . . . , ID_(zi)) for 1≦i≦n, preferably is an element of the first cyclic group

. Although represented in a single block, generation of all the public elements P_(zi) may take place over time, rather than all at once.

A lower-level secret s_(zi) is selected (block 720) for each of the recipients' n ancestral lower-level authorizers 604 a,b,d. The lower-level secrets s_(zi) preferably are elements of the cyclic group

/q

for 1≦i≦n, and each lower-level key generation secret s_(zi) preferably is known only to its associated lower-level authorizer. Again, although represented in a single block, selection of all the secrets s_(zi) may take place over time, rather than all at once.

A lower-level secret element S_(zi) is generated (block 722) for each of the sender's n ancestral lower-level authorizers. Each lower-level secret element, S_(zi)=S_(z(i−1))+s_(z(i−1))P_(zi) for 1≦i≦n, preferably is an element of the first cyclic group

. Although represented in a single block like the public elements P_(zi) and the secrets s_(zi), generation of all the secret elements S_(zi) may take place over time, rather than all at once.

A lower-level key generation parameter Q_(zi) also is generated (block 724) for each of the recipients' n ancestral lower-level authorizers. Each of the key generation parameters, Q_(zi)=s_(zi)P₀ for 1≦i≦n, preferably is an element of the second cyclic group

. Again, although represented in a single block, generation of all the key generation parameters Q_(zi) may take place over time, rather than all at once.

The functions of the next two blocks (blocks 726 and 728) are performed as part of the Certification algorithm described above. A recipient element P_(z(n+1)) associated with the recipient z is generated in block 726. The recipient element, P_(z(n+1))=H₁(Inf_(z(n+1)), ID_(z1), . . . , ID_(z(n))), preferably is an element of the first cyclic group

. Here, Inf_(z(n+1)) is a string of binary digits that may include the recipient's public key and ancillary information such as the validity period of the recipient's identity-based decryption key. A recipient secret element S_(z(n+1)) associated with the recipient z is then generated in block 728. The recipient decryption key

${S_{z{({n + 1})}} = {{S_{zn} + {s_{zn}P_{z{({n + 1})}}}} = {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{n + 1}{s_{z{({i - 1})}}P_{zi}}}}},$

also preferably is an element of the first cyclic group

. Using the recipient decryption key and SKB, the recipient computes S_(B)=S_(z(n−1))+s_(B)P′_(B).

For convenience, the first function H₁ optionally may be chosen to be an iterated function so that, for example, the public points P_(i) may be computed as H₁(P_(z(i−1)), ID_(zi)) rather than H₁(ID₁, . . . , ID_(zi)).

The last two blocks shown in FIG. 7 (blocks 730 and 732) represent the Encryption and Decryption algorithms described above. In block 730, the sender encrypts message M to generate a ciphertext C. The encoding preferably uses at least the recipient's public key and the root key generation parameter Q₀. The recipient decrypts ciphertext C in block 732 to recover the message M. The decoding preferably uses at least the lower-level key generation parameters Q_(zi) and the recipient decryption key S_(z(n+1)) and the recipient private key. The specific use of the parameters and elements in the encoding and decoding of the message M and the ciphertext C is now discussed with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 8 shows a flow diagram illustrating a method of encoding and decoding a digital message M communicated between a sender y and a recipient z according to another embodiment of the invention. In this scheme, referred to as BasicHCBE, the Root Setup, Lower-level Setup, Extraction and Certification algorithms are the same as for the embodiment shown in blocks 702 through 728 of FIG. 7. Accordingly, the flow diagram of FIG. 8 begins with the selection of a random encryption parameter r in block 830 a. Preferably, r is an integer of the cyclic group

/q

. The ciphertext C is then generated in block 830 b using the formula C=[rP₀, rP_(z2), . . . , rP_(z(n+1)), V], wherein V=M⊕H₂(g^(r)), wherein g=ê(Q₀, P_(z1))ê(s_(B)P, P′_(B)). Here, s_(B)P is the recipient public key, P′_(B) is H₁(Inf_(rec)), wherein Inf_(rec) comprises the recipient's public key.

After the message has been encoded, it may be decoded according to the BasicHCBE Decryption algorithm, in which the message M is recovered from the ciphertext C (block 832) using the formula

$M = {V \oplus {{H_{2}\left( \frac{\hat{e}\left( {U_{0},S_{n + 1}} \right)}{\prod\limits_{i = 2}^{n + 1}\; {\hat{e}\left( {Q_{i - 1},U_{i}} \right)}} \right)}.}}$

Known methods for making one-way encryption schemes secure against chosen-ciphertext attacks allow conversion of a BasicHCBE scheme to a FullHCBE scheme that is chosen-ciphertext secure in the random oracle model. FIG. 9 illustrates a FullHIDE based scheme that is chosen-ciphertext secure.

FIG. 9 shows a flow diagram illustrating a method of encoding and decoding a digital message M communicated between a sender y and a recipient z according to another presently preferred embodiment of the invention. The Root Setup, Lower-level Setup, Extraction and Certification algorithms are the same for this embodiment of the invention as for the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 7, except that the Root Setup algorithm of this embodiment requires two additional functions. Accordingly, the flow diagram of FIG. 9 begins with the selection of the additional functions (blocks 915 a and 915 b) and continues with the Encryption and Decryption algorithms (blocks 930 a through 932 d).

The Root Setup algorithm is completed by selecting a third function H₃ (block 915 a) and a fourth function H₄ (block 915 b). The third function H₃ preferably is capable of generating an integer of the cyclic group

/q

from two strings of binary digits. The fourth function H₄ preferably is capable of generating one binary string from another binary string.

The Encryption algorithm begins with block 930 a, which shows the selection of a random binary string σ. The random binary string σ is then used to generate a random integer r=H₃(σ, M), as shown in block 930 b. W is a symmetric encryption of the actual message M preferably generated using a symmetric encryption algorithm E, and using H₄(σ) as the encryption key. Accordingly, W=E_(H) ₄ _((σ))(M). In block 930 c, the ciphertext C=[U₀, U₂, . . . , U_(n+1), V, W] is generated. The ciphertext C includes elements U₀=rP₀, and U_(i)=rP_(zi) for 2≦i≦n+1, which relate to the recipient's public key and the location of the recipient in the hierarchy. The second part of the ciphertext C is the random binary string σ in encrypted form, V=σ⊕H₂(g^(r)), wherein g=ê(Q₀, P_(z1)). The element g preferably is a member of the second cyclic group

. The third part of the ciphertext C is the actual message in encrypted form, as described above.

The Decryption algorithm begins with block 932 a, which shows the recovery of the random binary string σ. The random binary string σ is recovered using the formula

$\sigma = {V \oplus {{H_{2}\left( \frac{\hat{e}\left( {U_{0},S_{z{({n + 1})}}} \right)}{\prod\limits_{i = 2}^{n + 1}\; {\hat{e}\left( {Q_{i - 1},U_{i}} \right)}} \right)}.}}$

The message M is then recovered from the ciphertext C (block 932 b) using the formula M=E_(H) ₄ _((σ)) ⁻¹(W). The ciphertext optionally may be checked for internal consistency. For instance, an experimental random integer r′=H₃(σ, M) may be generated, as shown in block 932 c. The experimental random integer r′ then may be used in block 932 d to confirm that U₀=r′P₀ and Ui=r′P_(zi) for 2≦i≦n+1. If so, then the ciphertext C is considered authentic.

The concept of dual-HCBE described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 may be applied to BasicHCBE and FullHCBE schemes. When both the sender and recipient are within the hierarchical structure, as shown in FIG. 6, dual-HCBE allows them to increase the efficiency and security of their encrypted communications. The application of dual-HCBE to BasicHCBE and FullHCBE schemes requires the determination of additional information, most of which is determined via the Lower-level Setup algorithm described above. For instance, elements P_(yi), lower-level key generation secrets s_(yi), lower-level secret elements S_(yi), and lower-level key generation parameters Q_(yi) must be determined for the sender's m ancestral lower-level authorizers. Note, however, that for the lower-level authorizers that are common ancestors to both the sender y and the recipient z, these parameters preferably will be the same for purposes of analyzing both the sender y and the recipient z (i.e., for all i≦l: P_(yi)=P_(zi), s_(yi)=s_(zi), S_(yi)=S_(zi), and Q_(yi)=Q_(zi)). Dual-HCBE also requires determination of a sender public element P_(y(m+1)) and a sender secret element S_(y(m+1)) for the sender, using the same methods for which these parameters are determined for the recipient as described above.

Given these additional parameters, a message M may be encoded to generate a ciphertext C according the principles of dual-HCBE by using the lower-level key generation parameters Q_(yi) for i≧l and the sender secret element S_(y(m+1)), but not using the lower-level key generation parameters Q_(yi) for i<l. Similarly, the ciphertext C may be decoded to recover the message M using the lower-level key generation parameters Q_(zi) for i≧l and the recipient secret element S_(z(n+1)), but not using the lower-level key generation parameters Q_(zi) for i<l.

For instance, in a BasicHCBE scheme (FIGS. 7 and 8), application of dual-HCBE changes the encoding of the message M to generate a ciphertext C=[U₀, U_(l+1), . . . , U_(n+1), V], wherein U₀=rP, and U_(i)=rP_(zi) for 2≦i≦n+1, wherein V=M⊕H₂(g_(yl) ^(r)), and wherein

$g_{yl} = {\frac{\hat{e}\left( {P_{0},S_{y{({m + 1})}}} \right)}{\prod\limits_{i = {l + 1}}^{m + 1}\; {\hat{e}\left( {Q_{y{({i - 1})}},P_{yi}} \right)}}.}$

The U_(i) factors are calculated in the same way as before, but fewer of them are necessary. However, dual-BasicHCBE does require the sender y to use more key generation parameters Q_(yi) to generate g_(yl) than are necessary to generate g as describe above. This is because the Encryption algorithm incorporates the sender's identity.

The increase in efficiency of the Decryption algorithm is more dramatic. The message M is recovered using

$M = {V \oplus {{H_{2}\left( \frac{\hat{e}\left( {U_{0},S_{z{({n + 1})}}} \right)}{\prod\limits_{i = {l + 1}}^{n + 1}\; {\hat{e}\left( {Q_{z{({i - 1})}},U_{zi}} \right)}} \right)}.}}$

Again, fewer U_(i) parameters are necessary. Similarly, the recipient requires fewer key generation parameters Q_(zi) for dual-HCBE than would otherwise be necessary.

FullHCBE also may be modified to create a dual-FullHCBE scheme. Generation of the ciphertext C in the Encryption algorithm is modified such that C=[U₀, U_(l+1), . . . , U_(n+1), V, W], wherein U₀=rP, and U_(i)=rP_(zi) for l+1≦i≦n+1. The W and r parameters are still generated the same way, W=E_(H) ₄ _((σ))(M), but the g_(yl) parameter in V=σ⊕H₂(g_(yl) ^(r)) is generated using

$g_{yl} = {\frac{\hat{e}\left( {P_{0},S_{y{({m + 1})}}} \right)}{\prod\limits_{i = {l + 1}}^{m + 1}\; {\hat{e}\left( {Q_{y{({i - 1})}},P_{yi}} \right)}}.}$

The Decryption algorithm also is modified in a dual-FullHCBE scheme. The random binary string σ is recovered using

$\sigma = {V \oplus {{H_{2}\left( \frac{\hat{e}\left( {U_{0},S_{z{({n + 1})}}} \right)}{\prod\limits_{i = {l + 1}}^{n + 1}\; {\hat{e}\left( {Q_{z{({i - 1})}},U_{zi}} \right)}} \right)}.}}$

Otherwise, recovery of the message M does not change.

Aggregate Signature CBE

In another embodiment of the present invention, a scheme may be used to compress signatures on any type of information in an authorization chain to a single point, i.e. given n signatures on n distinct messages from n distinct users, it is possible to aggregate all these signatures into a single short signature. D. Boneh, C. Gentry and B. Lynn and H. Shacham, Aggregate and Verifiably Encrypted Signatures from Bilinear Maps, eprint archive, 2002, available at http://eprint.iacr.org/2002/175/describe a bandwidth-efficient aggregate signature scheme in which multiple signatures by multiple signers on multiple documents may be compactly represented as a single point on an elliptic curve.

In such an aggregate-signature-based CBE protocol, the recipient can only decrypt an encrypted message if it possesses the signatures generated by the authorizers, in addition to the recipient's private key, SK_(B). Here, the public key of each required signer (an element of

) is readily available to users of the cryptosystem, as are a point P on the elliptic curve and a function H that maps messages to points on the elliptic curve.

In one embodiment of aggregate signature CBE, the ith signer chooses s_(i) as its private key and computes s_(i)P as its public key. The ith signer then signs a document M_(i) by computing P_(Mi)=H(M_(i)) and sends its signature S_(i)=s_(i)P_(Mi) to the recipient. Any entity, including the verifier, can verify that S_(i) is a legitimate signature by the i^(th) signer by checking that ê(P,S_(i))=ê(s_(i)P,P_(Mi)). Any entity can also aggregate the signatures by summing them up. Any entity that knows the aggregate signature S, the public keys of the signers, and the respective documents being signed can verify that the aggregate signature is legitimate by checking that ê(P,S)=Π^(n) _(i=1) ê(s_(i)P,P_(Mi)).

The message sender encrypts its message so that the message recipient needs the recipient private key and a specified aggregate signature in order to decrypt. Using the message recipient's public key, the public keys of the specified signers, and the specified documents to be signed, the message sender encrypts a message M by setting the ciphertext to be:

C=[rP,M⊕H ₂(g ^(r))], where g=ê(s _(B) P,P′ _(B))Π^(n) _(i=1) ê(s _(i) P,P _(Mi)) and where P′ _(B) =H ₁(Inf _(rec)).

The message recipient computes g^(r)=ê(rP,s_(B)P′_(B))ê(rP,S), which allows recovery of the message M.

The document M_(i) may comprise any type of digital information and one of more of the authorizers may sign different documents. In one embodiment of the invention, a document M_(i) includes the validity period for the recipient's public key and can include other identifying information, including the recipient's public key. In this embodiment, the recipient can decrypt only if the aggregate signature includes the ith signer's signature on M_(i) attesting that the recipient's public key is valid for period i.

In another embodiment of the invention, the authorizers form an aggregate signature hierarchy including at least a root authorizer and n lower-level authorizers in the hierarchy between the root authorizers and the entity, wherein n≧1. For example, the recipient may be at level t in the hierarchy with authorizers above having public keys s_(K)P for 0≦k≦t−1. Each authorizer certifies the public key of the authorizer below it, producing s_(K)P_(k+1) for 0≦k≦t−2, where P_(k+1)=H₁(CA_(k+1)name, s_(K+1)P). Here, CA_(k+1)name is the identifying information for the authorizer at level k+1. The authorizer at level t−1 certifies the recipient, producing s_(t−1)P_(B), where P_(B)=H₁(Recipient_(name), s_(B)P, i). Here, recipient_(name) is the recipient's identifying information, s_(B)P is the recipient's public key, and i is a parameter determining the validity period of the recipient's public key.

To encrypt M, the sender chooses a random r∈

/q

and creates ciphertext C=[rs_(B)P, M⊕H₂(g^(r))], where g=Π^(n) _(i=1) ê(P_(K), s_(K−1)P). To decrypt, the recipient is assumed to have possession of the aggregate of the t certificates

$S_{B} = {s_{t - 1}P_{B}{\sum\limits_{k = 1}^{t - 1}{s_{k - 1}{P_{k}.}}}}$

The recipient computes s_(B) ⁻¹S_(B) and then decrypts M=V⊕H₂(ê(rs_(B)P, s_(B) ⁻¹S_(B))).

Here, encryption involves t pairing computations. However, decryption time and the ciphertext length are the same as Boneh-Franklin. This method offers advantages over the hierarchical schemes described above there the length of the ciphertext is basically proportional to t.

As in the schemes mentioned above, aggregate signature CBE may be made chosen-ciphertext secure in the random oracle model using the Fujisaki-Okamoto transform.

CBE Using General Pairing-Based Signatures

The description above discusses different pairing-based embodiments of CBE in which the recipient decryption key is a pairing-based signature. For example, in the simplest version of pairing-based CBE, the recipient decryption key is a single element of

that is a single authorizer's signature on a single document. In the pairing-based embodiments of HCBE and dual-HCBE, the recipient decryption key is a hierarchical identity-based signature on a single document consisting of a plurality of elements of

. In the pairing-based embodiment of aggregate signature CBE, the recipient decryption key represents multiple signatures by multiple signers on multiple documents that may be aggregated into a single element of

. In general, the verification algorithm in these signature schemes works by confirming that a product of pairings of public key points and message points—e.g., s_(i)P and P_(Mi) for aggregate signatures—equals a product of pairings of signature points and dummy points—e.g., s_(i)P_(Mi) and P for aggregate signatures. In another embodiment of the present invention, any pairing-based signature scheme may be used to construct a pairing-based CBE scheme, where a pairing-based signature scheme is defined herein to be one in which the verification algorithm works by confirming that a product of pairings of the public key points and message points equals a product of pairings of the signature points and dummy points.

For example, suppose that the verification algorithm confirms that Π^(n) _(i=1) e(Q_(i), P_(Mi))=Π^(n) _(i=1)(S_(i), D_(i)), where the Q's are public key points, the P's are message points, the S's are signature points, and the D's are decryption points, not necessarily distinct. If the signature scheme is secure, a secure pairing-based CBE scheme may be constructed. The sender chooses a random r∈

/q

and creates ciphertext C=[rD₀, rD₁, . . . rD_(n), M⊕H₂(g^(r))], where g=e(s_(B)D₀,P′_(B)) Π^(n) _(i=1) e(Q_(i), P_(Mi)). If the message recipient possesses all of the signature points—i.e., all of the necessary authorizations, it may compute g^(r)=e(rD₀,s_(B)P′_(B)) Π^(n) _(i=1)(S_(i), rD_(i)), and hence M. As previously, the scheme can be made chosen-ciphertext secure in the random oracle model using the Fujisaki-Okamoto transform.

High-Granularity CBE

Another embodiment of the invention combines a CBE scheme with a forward-secure encryption scheme operated in reverse to produce a high-granularity CBE scheme.

In a conventional forward-secure encryption scheme, the lifetime of the system is divided into a number of time-periods, each defining a key validity period. This period is equivalent to the validity period of the identity-based decryption key in a CBE system. In the forward-secure system, the private key changes during successive time periods in such a way that, if the key is compromised, an attacker cannot decrypt messages sent to the recipient in previous time periods. However, if the sender continues to use the key after compromise, the attacker can decrypt messages sent in subsequent time periods. J. Katz, A Forward-Secure Public-Key Encryption Scheme, eprint archive, 2002, available at http://eprint.iacr.org/2002/060/, the contents of which are incorporated by this reference, describes such a forward-secure scheme. The security of the Katz scheme is based on the bilinear Diffie-Hellman assumption in the random oracle model and may be extended to achieve chosen-ciphertext security.

In a high-granularity CBE scheme of the present invention, the authorizer uses a forward-secure system operated in reverse to issue a recipient identity-based decryption key that can be used to decrypt messages encrypted using a time period parameter set at or before a specific time but not messages encrypted with a time parameter set at a later time.

In a conventional CBE scheme, the authorizer must issue an identity-based decryption key to each potential message recipient for every time period used during encryption. If the authorizer is to be able to respond quickly to situations in which a key is compromised, the key must be valid for only a short time period. For example, the authorizer may be required to issue a key having a validity period of one minute, requiring the authorizer to issue a new key to each user every minute. Transmitting such a large number of keys for all users requires considerable resources.

In the high-granularity authorized decryption scheme, the forward-secure scheme allows the recipient to request a key update only when a recipient wishes to initiate a session of reading encrypted messages. If the recipient has only four message reading sessions per day—e.g., it logs into its email accounts only once every few hours—only four keys are required, regardless of how many actual messages the message recipient decrypts. Each key will allow the recipient to decrypt all messages encrypted using a time parameter set earlier than or at the time it requests the key but not messages encrypted with a parameter indicating a later time. High-granularity CBE reduces transmission costs by reducing the number of identity-based decryption keys transmitted by the authorizer. The scheme offers various tradeoffs compared to an online scheme or a conventional high-granularity scheme.

In an online scheme, the authorizer collaborates with the recipient on each message decryption. Thus, in comparing an online approach with a high-granularity CBE scheme, the most important metric is how many messages a recipient expects to decrypt per session. A large number of messages per session favors the high-granularity CBE protocol, at least in terms of minimizing the burden on the authorizer.

A conventional approach incorporating high time granularity requires the message sender to perform an online check of the recipient's key status before sending a message. Again, a high number of messages per session favors the high-granularity CBE protocol over the conventional approach, since, in this case, the sender must perform an operation for each message.

Where key updates occur at a high frequency, a high-granularity CBE scheme allows a recipient to download identity-based decryption key information only when the recipient wishes to initiate a session of reading messages. The downloaded information allows the decryption of messages encrypted using a time parameter up to the current time-period, but not messages encrypted using a time parameter for a later time-period. Since the authorizer does not need to compute and transmit a separate identity-based decryption key for each time-period that has transpired, this decreases the workload on the authorizer compared to a conventional CBE scheme. The size of the download can be further reduced by downloading only the information required to compute keys for the time-period since the previous download. (However, the fact that that recipients “pull” certificates from the authorizer, whereas the authorizer may “push” certificates to recipients in a conventional CBE scheme, may introduce some additional workload on the authorizer).

If desired, it is possible to combine a high-granularity CBE protocol with a hierarchical certification scheme to avoid burdening a single authorizer with key-issuing responsibilities for an entire network.

FIG. 10 shows a diagram illustrating one embodiment of a high-granularity CBE scheme. Here, the lifetime of the scheme is divided into a number of time periods t. For example, since there are approximately 2¹¹ minutes in a day, an 11-bit binary string b₁ . . . b₁₁ may be assigned to each minute. Each binary string defines a time-period identification parameter representing the “identity” of a specific time minute. If the system lifetime is longer than one day, each day forms a portion of the system lifetime. A time portion identifying parameter that specifies the date (the “identity” of the day) may be specified separately. Alternatively, the identity of the recipient may also specify the date.

FIG. 10 illustrates one embodiment of a high-granularity CBE protocol. In FIG. 10, the successive time-periods 901 are represented by the leafs of a binary tree of height t. Here, successive time-periods are associated with the leafs of the tree, which are labeled with strings <i> of length t, i.e. time period i is associated with the leaf labeled by <i>.

Each node w 902 of the tree, including the leaf nodes are assigned a secret key sk_(w) by the authorizer. To decrypt a message encrypted using PK during period i, only key ski_(<i)> is needed. In addition, given key sk_(w), it is possible to efficiently derive descendant keys sk_(w0) and sk_(w1) for descendant nodes w₀ 904 and w₁ 905 and the descendants derived of these nodes. However, given PK and i, and without sk_(w) for all prefixes w of <i>, it is infeasible to derive s_(ki<i)> or to decrypt messages encrypted during time-periods up to including i.

For example, if the authorizer wishes to allow the recipient to decrypt messages during time periods 1-3 but not messages send during subsequent time periods, the authorizer will give the recipient the keys associated with node w0 904 and w10 908. The recipient can generate the keys associated with time-periods 1-2, i.e. w00 906 and w01 907, from key w0 904 and has the key for time period 3, i.e. w10 908. However, the recipient cannot decrypt messages during time period 4 909 or subsequent time periods.

In one embodiment of the invention, a pairing-based high-granularity CBE scheme includes four randomized algorithms: setup, key generation and certification, encryption, and decryption.

During setup, the authorizer uses IG, a BDH parameter generator, and a security parameter k to generate groups

and

of some prime order q and an admissible pairing ê:

×

→

as is described in the above CBE schemes. Again, the pairing is admissible if it is bilinear, non-degenerate and computable.

The authorizer selects a key generation secret and establishes system parameters by choosing an arbitrary generator P∈

, picking a random s_(c)∈

/q

, setting Q=s_(c)P, and choosing cryptographic functions H₁: {0, 1}*→

and H₂:

→{0,1}^(n) for some n. Here, the message space is

={0,1}^(n), the system parameters are params=(

,

, ê, P, Q, H₁, H₂), and the authorizer's master key generation secret is s_(c)∈

/q

.

In the key generation and certification algorithm, the authorizer then generates the recipient's identity-based decryption key. The key SK_(i) for time period i will consist of sk_(<i>) and {sk_(<i0 . . . ik−) ₁ _(0>)} for all 1≦k≦t such that i_(k)=1, i.e. the secret keys for all time periods up to and including time period i. Here, SK_(j) is computable from SK_(i) when j≦i.

When a user requests SK_(i) from the authorizer, the authorizer chooses random x∈Z/qZ. For w=<i> and for all w=i₀ . . . i_(k−1)0 with 1≦k≦t such that i_(k)=1, it computes S_(w)=s_(C)H₁(i₀, Inf_(z))+xH₁(w) and sets sk_(w)={xP, S_(w)}. It sends these sk_(w) to the recipient.

In the encryption algorithm, the sender selects a random r and encrypts a message to form a ciphertext C by setting the ciphertext to:

C=[rs _(B) P, rH ₁(j ₀ j ₁), . . . , rH ₁(j ₀ . . . j _(t)), M⊕H ₂(g ^(r))],

where s_(B)P is the recipient's public key, j is a time period chosen by the sender, and g=e(Q, H₁(i₀, Inf_(z))).

In the decryption algorithm, a recipient possessing SK_(i) for j≦i knows sk_(w) for some w that is a prefix of j—i.e., some w=j₀ . . . j_(k) for some k≦t. Using this sk_(w), it decrypts C=[U₀, U1, . . . , U_(t), V] by computing:

g ^(r) =e(U ₀ ,s _(B) ⁻¹ S _(w))/e(xP,U _(k)),

and then M=V⊕H₂(g^(r)).

Combining Certification Reconfirmation and CBE

The CBE schemes discussed require that the authorizer sign each recipient's decryption key individually. For example, if a system has 250 million users and the time granularity is one day and each user receives a decryption key for each time-period, the authorizer would have to generate and transmit 250 million identity-based signatures per day.

A good PKI proposal must balance cryptographic and algorithmic considerations with real world technological limitations. In terms of efficiency, two important factors are the amount of computation performed by each type of entity (e.g. the authorizer) and the communication costs between the entities. Other embodiments of the present invention provide for computationally efficient techniques for the authorizer to issue new decryption keys to users of the system.

A CBE scheme that amortizes public key operations over multiple users offers advantages in terms of efficiency. In a CBE scheme, the certificates issued by the authorizer must also serve as decryption keys in a public-key encryption scheme. These decryption keys must be computed using public key operations. However, by using efficient data structures, like B-trees, the authorizer need not necessarily perform O(N) public key operations per day, despite having N clients.

In one embodiment of the present invention, each client of the authorizer is assigned a long-lived (e.g., one-year) certificate, which the authorizer periodically “reconfirms” (e.g., every day). The long-lived certificate may be generated in a number of ways. For example, it could be created using a scheme similar to that described above. In any case, if the message sender has the message recipient's long-lived certificate, the sender can use CBE to protect against the possibility that the recipient's public key has been revoked before its intended date of expiration.

In cryptography, there is a broadcast encryption technique using the leafs of binary trees to represent the N users in a system. Here, a user's m=log N secret keys are the secret keys of the m nodes that are the leaf's ancestors (including the leaf itself). FIG. 11 illustrates such a system. Here, if user 4 is authorized to the broadcast, the authorizer encrypts the session broadcast key with the secret key of one of its m ancestors 1101, 1102, 1103 . . . 1104. If user 4 is not entitled to the broadcast, the m secret keys corresponding to nodes that “hang off” the path from the root to this leaf are used instead.

When R users are not entitled to the broadcast, the session broadcast key is encrypted using Rlog(N/R) node keys, where these nodes form a “cover” of the N-R entitled users. FIG. 12 illustrates the concept of “cover”. Here, the keys associated with nodes 1201 provide cover for users 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, i, and i+1 but not the other users.

One embodiment of a CBE scheme applies this technique. A unique binary string is generated associating the recipient with a leaf node in a B-tree. Unique binary strings associated with each ancestor node of the recipient leaf node are also generated. In the present pairing-based embodiment, the authorizer establishes some public way of associating the binary strings to points P_(node) on the relevant elliptic curve (or abelian variety).

These binary strings may be generated in a number of ways. For example, the authorizer may compute a node's binary string as function(stringparent, O) or function(stringparent, 1), depending on whether the node is the left or right child of its parent. Alternatively, binary strings can be assigned to each recipient leaf node and the binary strings associated with ancestor generated using at least the binary strings associated with the child nodes of these nodes. Each binary string can then be mapped to a point on an elliptic curve or abelian variety using a function. In one embodiment, the function may be a hash function.

The decryption key corresponding to a node's point P_(node), is s_(c)P_(node), where s_(c) is a master secret kept by the authorizer. The authorizer finds a cover of the users to be reconfirmed, and then periodically publishes the decryption keys corresponding to the nodes in that cover. Every reconfirmed user can find some decryption key s_(c)P_(node), such that node is an ancestor of its leaf. This decryption key may also be associated with a parameter establishing a validity period for the decryption key. For example, P_(node) may depend on this parameter.

If the point P_(node) associated with the decryption key s_(c)P_(node) are known to the sender, the sender can encrypt a message to the recipient using the recipient's public key PK_(B) and an encryption key forming a public key/private key pair with the decryption key.

However, since the sender may not know the cover used by the authorizer, the sender may not know which of the recipient's ancestor nodes this decryption key corresponds to. Thus, the sender generates m separate encryptions of the message.

The sender chooses a random r and computes rP. Next the sender encrypts the ciphertext C=[rP, V₁, . . . , V_(m)], where V_(i)=M⊕H(ê(P,P_(i))^(rs) ^(c) ) and P_(i) is the identifying string corresponding to serial number b₁ . . . b_(i). Some part of the ciphertext, e.g., M, is also encrypted with the recipient's public key PK_(B). This could be done in a fashion similar to the schemes above, where the recipient uses its knowledge of s_(B) to compute s_(B)P′_(B), which it needs to decrypt.

An unrevoked recipient will have received some decryption key s_(c)P_(i) from the authorizer. The recipient uses this key, as well as the recipient's private key SK_(B), to decrypt one of the V_(i)'s.

If the decryption key is associated with a validity period parameter, a message sender knowing the schedule by which the authorizer issues the recipient's decryption key can encrypt a message using the recipient's public key PK_(B) and an encryption key forming a public key/private key pair with the decryption key with a defined validity period. The recipient may then only decrypt the message during this period.

In another embodiment of the present invention, only the root node point P_(time) is computed as a function of the period validity parameter. The lower-level nodes, i.e. those nodes between the root node and the leaf representing a recipient, are computed as functions of their positions in the tree, e.g., P_(b1 . . . bi)=H(b₁ . . . b_(i)), and do not change with time. The authorizer uses the technique described above to generate a decryption key for some ancestor of each leaf associated with a recipient that is not revoked. The decryption key for b₁ . . . b_(i) is of the form s_(C)P_(time)+x(P_(b1 . . . bi)), xP for some random x∈

/q

. Here, both s_(c) and x are secrets of the authorizer.

As compared to the previous embodiment, the authorizer's computational load in computing these keys is not increased. However, the sender's encryption time is reduced. To encrypt, the sender chooses a random r and computes rP. The sender then encrypts the ciphertext C:

C=[rP, rP_(b1), . . . , r(P_(b1)+ . . . +P_(b1 . . . bm)), V], where V=M⊕H₂(ê(s_(C)P, P_(time))^(r))), ê(P, P_(time))∈

. Again, some part of the ciphertext, e.g., M, is also encrypted with the recipient's public key PK_(B).

An unrevoked recipient decrypts by dividing ê(rP, sP_(time)+x((P_(b1)+ . . . +P_(b1 . . . bi))) by ê(xP, r(P_(b1)+ . . . +P_(b1 . . . bi))). The recipient also uses the recipient's private key SK_(B), to decrypt the message. Here, the recipient has to perform one more pairing than the previous embodiment. However, the sender performs fast point multiplications rather than slower pairing computations.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, only the root node point P_(time) is computed as a function of a certain specified time-period, as above. However, in this embodiment, the amount of work performed in a given time period by the authorizer depends only on the number of revocations that occurred during the previous time-period, rather than the total number of revoked recipients.

The lower-level nodes are again computed as functions of their positions in the tree, e.g., P_(b1 . . . bi)=H(b₁ . . . b_(i)), and do not change according to time. The authorizer generates a decryption key for some ancestor of each unrevoked recipient.

If the authorizer performs decryption key updates at given time intervals, e.g. every hour, the each hour has a point P_(hour) associated with it. The authorizer finds a cover of the recipients that have not been revoked in the past hour, using the broadcast encryption technique. This cover will consist of O(R log(N/R)) points, where R is the number of recipients revoked in the past hour (not overall). For each node P_(i) in the cover, the authorizer issues a point of the form sP_(hour)+xP_(i), along with the point xP. The authorizer chooses a new value of x for each hour. If a given recipient has not been revoked in that hour, the recipient will have some ancestor P_(i) for which the authorizer has issued a point. This point is the recipient's reconfirmation certificate for that hour.

By adding its hourly reconfirmation certificates together, a recipient obtains an aggregated certificate of the form s(P_(hour1)+ . . . +P_(hourk))+x₁P₁+x₂P₂+ . . . +x_(m)P_(m), together with the points {x_(i),P}. This is the recipient's updated decryption key. At the end of a chosen time interval, e.g. at the end of the day, the authorizer publishes s(P_(day)−P₂₄− . . . −P₁). This allows all recipients that were certified throughout the day to compress the expression of the time component of their private point. A recipient's complete private point from day v hour y to day w hour z may look like:

S _(recipient) =s(P _(v,y) + . . . +P _(v,24) +P _(v+1,1)+ . . . +P_(w,z))+x _(l) P ₁ +x ₂ P ₂+ . . . +x_(m) P _(m).

The message sender can easily compute P_(Bper)=P_(v,y)+ . . . +P_(w,z), the point corresponding to the time period over which a recipient must have been continuously reconfirmed. The sender encrypts a message to the recipient by first choosing a random r and then computing rP. The sender then sets the ciphertext C to be:

C=[rP, rP ₁ , . . . , rP _(m) ,V], where V=M⊕H(ê(s _(C) P, P _(Bper))^(rs)).

Again, some part of the ciphertext, e.g., M, is also encrypted with recipient's public key PK_(B).

The recipient, if not revoked, decrypts to recover M via the formula:

$M = {V \oplus {H\left( {{\hat{e}\left( {{rP},S_{recipient}} \right)}/{\prod\limits_{i = 1}^{m}{\hat{e}\left( {{rP}_{i},{x_{i}P}} \right)}}} \right)}}$

The recipient also uses the recipient private key SK_(B) to perform some part of the decryption

The advantages of the later embodiment may be illustrated by the following example in which the authorizer has N=250,000,000 clients, performs updates every hour, and revokes R users per hour. In a system of 250,000,000 users, 10% of which are revoked per year, about 2850 users are revoked per hour. Since R log(N/R)˜46000, the authorizer must generate about 13 reconfirmation certificates per second. This is quite reasonable on a single computer. However, the CA can have several computers to allow the computation to be distributed. Signature generation merely involves point multiplication on elliptic curves, which is fast ECC-type operation.

Distributing these certificates can be handled in a number of different ways. One option is to “push” certificates to the recipients they certify. Potentially, multicast could make this very efficient, reducing the authorizer's bandwidth needs to (46000 certs)*(320 bits per certification)/hour=4 kbits/sec. If multicast is not used, pushing certificates directly to all 250,000,000 users would require the CA to have at least 22 tobit/sec connection, which, since it is a lower bound, may be infeasible. This figure might be reduced if clients “pull” their certificates from the CA less than 24 times per day, but the bandwidth requirements would still be substantial. If multiple (untrusted) servers are used, a (collective) 22 mbit/sec connection will allow the servers to push certificates to clients.

As an alternative, the clients could pull their certificates from the servers. It is not necessary for every server to store all of the reconfirmation certificates. Rather, the recipient can have a certain server that it always retrieves its certificates from. In this case, the authorizer-directory communication is not (4 kbits/sec)*(number of servers); rather it remains 4 kbits/sec.

Regardless of the number of time periods that have passed from a recipient's initial certification to the present, the recipient's proof of certification remains compact: its private point S_(recipient) together with its log N points {x_(i)P}. At a small additional expense to the sender, the recipient can express each point using about 160 bits (instead of 320 bits). Thus, if N is 250,000,000, its aggregated reconfirmation certificate is about 4.5 kbits.

Although the methods of the present invention all preferably require the recipient to have its own public key/private key pair so that only the recipient (or possibly a private key generator, if the recipient private key is identity-based) can decrypt, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the methods can be weakened by not making such a requirement—i.e., by allowing the sender's message to be decrypted by any entity possessing the necessary signatures from the necessary authorizers even without a recipient private key.

Systems for Use with Certificate-Based Encryption Schemes

Various methods of sending a digital message between a sender and a recipient in a public-key encryption scheme have been described. A system for implementing these methods according to another embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

The system includes a number of terminals, each of which may be associated with an entity that sends or receives messages according to the methods described above. The system also includes one or more authorizers that certify that a message recipient has authority to receive a message.

Each terminal includes a processor in bidirectional communication with a memory. The processor executes suitable program code for carrying out the procedures described above. The processor also executes suitable program code for generating information to be transmitted to other terminals. Suitable program code may be created according to methods known in the art. The memory stores the program code, as well as intermediate results and other information used during execution of the methods described above.

A communications network is provided over which the entities and the authorizer(s) may communicate. The communications network may be of various common forms, including, for instance, a LAN computer network, a WAN computer network, and/or a mobile telephone network provide suitable communication networks.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof and illustrative examples, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A method for operating an encryption system which provides for operations (a) through (m) defined below, the method being for generating a decryption key for a recipient z in the encryption system, wherein the recipient z is n+1 levels below a root authorizer Au₀ in a hierarchy, and wherein the recipient is associated with a recipient ID-tuple (ID_(z1), . . . , ID_(z(n+1))) that includes identity information ID_(z(n+1)) associated with the recipient and identity information ID_(zi) associated with each of n lower-level authorizers Au₁, . . . . Au_(n) in the hierarchy between the root authorizer and the recipient, wherein n≧1, the method comprising at least one of operations (Au₀), (Au₁), . . . (Au_(n)), wherein: the operation (Au₀) comprises at least the operations (a) through (g); the operations (a) through (m) are as follows: (a) generating a first cyclic group

of elements and a second cyclic group

of elements; (b) selecting a non-degenerate bilinear pairing ê capable of generating an element of the second cyclic group

from two elements of the first cyclic group

; (c) selecting a root generator P₀ of the first cyclic group

; (d) selecting a random root key generation secret s₀ associated with and known to the root authorizer; (e) generating a root key generation parameter Q₀=s₀P₀; (f) selecting a first function H₁ capable of generating an element of the first cyclic group

from a first string of binary digits; (g) selecting a second function H₂ capable of generating a second string of binary digits from an element of the second cyclic group

; (h) generating an element P_(zi) for each of the n lower-level authorizers, wherein P_(zi)=H₁(ID₁, . . . , ID_(zi)) for 1≦i≦n; (i) for each i such that 1≦i≦n, in the operation (Au_(i)), selecting a lower-level key generation secret s_(zi) for the lower-level authorizer Au_(i), wherein each lower-level key generation secret s_(zi) is known to its associated lower-level authorizer Au_(i); (j) for each i such that 1≦i≦n, in the operation (Au_(i−1)), generating a lower-level secret element S_(zi) for the lower-level authorizer Au_(i), wherein S_(zi)=S_(z(i−1))+s_(z(i−1))P_(zi), wherein S₀=Q₀; (k) for each i such that 1≦i≦n, in the operation (Au_(i)), generating a lower-level key generation parameter Q_(zi) for each of the n lower-level authorizers, wherein Q_(zi)=s_(zi)P₀; (l) generating a recipient element P_(z(n+1))=H₁(ID_(z1), . . . , ID_(z(n)), Inf_((n+1))) associated with the recipient, wherein P_(z(n+1)) is an element of the first cyclic group

and wherein Inf_((n+1)) is a string of binary digits; and (m) in the operation (Au_(n)), generating a recipient decryption key $S_{{zn} + 1} = {{S_{zn} + {s_{zn}P_{{zn} + 1}}} = {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{n + 1}{s_{{zi} - 1}P_{zi}}}}$ associated with the recipient.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein Inf_((n+1)) comprises the identity of the recipient and a validity period for the identity-based decryption key.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein Inf_((n+1)) further comprises a recipient public key generated by the recipient.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein both the first group

and the second group

are of the same prime order q.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first cyclic group

is an additive group of points on a supersingular elliptic curve or abelian variety, and the second cyclic group

is a multiplicative subgroup of a finite field.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the bilinear pairing ê is efficiently computable.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the method comprises the operation (Au₀).
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the method comprises the operation (Au_(i)) for at least one i≧1.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises the operation (Au_(n)).
 10. A manufacture comprising a computer-readable computer program operable to cause a computer to perform the method of claim
 1. 11. The manufacture of claim 10 wherein the method comprises the operation (Au_(n)).
 12. A manufacture comprising, in computer-readable form, the decryption key generated by the method of claim
 1. 13. An encryption/decryption method for operating a hierarchical certificate-based encryption system which uses a recipient decryption key generated by the method of claim 1 and provides for operations (1), (2), (3) defined below and, the recipient decryption key being the recipient secret element, the encryption/decryption method comprising at least one of operations (Se) and (Re), wherein the operation (Re) comprises the operations (1) and (3) and the operation (Se) comprises the operation (2), wherein the operations (1), (2), (3) are as follows: (1) generating a recipient public key/private key pair for the recipient, wherein the recipient private key is known to the recipient; (2) encrypting a digital message M to generate a ciphertext C using at least the recipient public key, the root encryption parameter Q₀ and Inf_((n+1)); (3) decrypting the ciphertext C to recover the digital message M using at least the recipient private key, the lower-level key generation parameters Q_(zi) and the recipient secret element S_(z(n+1)).
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the encryption/decryption method comprises the operation (Re).
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein the encryption/decryption method comprises the operation (Se).
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the first cyclic group

is an additive group of points on a supersingular elliptic curve or abelian variety, and the second cyclic group

is a multiplicative subgroup of a finite field.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the bilinear pairing ê is efficiently computable.
 18. The method of claim 13, wherein encrypting the message M comprises: selecting a random parameter r, and generating the ciphertext C=[rP, V], wherein V is an encryption of the message M using a value g^(r), wherein $g = {{\hat{e}\left( {P_{B}^{\prime},{s_{B}P}} \right)}{\prod\limits_{j = 1}^{n + 1}{\hat{e}\left( {P_{j},{s_{Z{({j - 1})}}P}} \right)}}}$ wherein s_(B)P is the recipient public key, P′_(B) is H₁(Inf_((n+1))) and Pj=H₁(s_(z(j−1))P, Inf_((n+1))); and wherein decrypting the ciphertext C further comprises recovering the digital message M using a value ê(rP, S_(z(n+1))).
 19. The method of claim 13, wherein the operation (Au₀) further comprises: selecting a third function H₃ capable of generating an integer of the cyclic group

/q

from a two strings of binary digits, wherein q is an order of the group

; and selecting a fourth function H₄ capable of generating one binary string from another binary string; wherein encrypting the message M further comprises: choosing a random parameter σ∈{0, 1}^(n); set a random key generation secret r=H₃(σ, M); and generating the ciphertext C=[U₀, U₂, . . . , U_(t), V, W], wherein U₀=rs_(B)P and U_(i)=rP_(zi) for 2≦i≦n+1, wherein V is an encryption of the message M using a value g^(r), and wherein g=ê(Q₀, P_(z1)) and s_(B)P is the recipient public key, wherein W=E_(H4(σ))(M), E is a symmetric encryption scheme, and H_(4(σ)) is the key used with E; and wherein decrypting the ciphertext C further comprises: recovering the random binary string σ using a ratio of (i) ê(U₀,S_(z(n+1))) and (ii) the product of values ê(Q_(i−1),U_(i)) from i=2 to i=n+1; and recovering the message M using M=E⁻¹ _(H4(σ))(W).
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the bilinear pairing ê is efficiently computable pairing.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the operation (Re) further comprises authenticating the ciphertext C by: computing a random integer r′=H₃(σ, M); and confirming that U₀=r′P₀ and Ui=r′P_(zi) for 2≦i≦n+1.
 22. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of authorizers further includes at least m lower-level authorizers Au_(y1), . . . , Au_(ym) in the hierarchy between the root authorizer and the sender y, wherein m≧1, wherein/authorizers Au₀=Au_(y0), . . . , Au_(l)=Au_(yl) of the authorizers in the hierarchy are common hierarchical ancestors to both the sender y and the recipient z, wherein l≧1, and wherein the recipient y is associated with a recipient ID-tuple (ID_(y1), . . . , ID_(y(m+1))) that includes identity information ID_(y(m+1)) associated with the sender y and identity information ID_(yi) associated with each of the m lower-level authorizers in the hierarchy between the root authorizer and the sender y, wherein: for each i=1, . . . , m, an element P_(yi) is generated for the lower-level authorizer Au_(yi), wherein P_(yi)=H₁(ID_(y1), . . . , ID_(yi)) for 1≦i≦m, and wherein P_(yi)=P_(zi) for all i≦l; for each i=1, . . . , m, a lower-level key generation secret s_(yi) is selected for the lower-level authorizer Au_(yi), wherein s_(yi)=s_(zi) for all i≦l; for each i=1, . . . , m, a lower-level secret element S_(yi) is selected for the lower-level authorizer Au_(yi), wherein S_(yi)=S_(y(i−1))+s_(y(i−1))P_(yi) for 1≦i≦m, and wherein S_(yi)=S_(zi) for all i≦l; for each i=1, . . . , m, a lower-level key generation parameter Q_(yi) is generated for the lower-level authorizer Au_(yi), wherein Q_(yi)=s_(yi)P₀ for 1≦i≦m, and wherein Q_(yi)=Q_(zi) for all i≦l; wherein a sender element P_(y(m+1))=H₁(ID_(y1), . . . , ID_(y(m+1)), Inf_(s(m+1))) is generated associated with the sender y; wherein a sender secret element $S_{y{({m + 1})}} = {{S_{ym} + {s_{ym}P_{y{({m + 1})}}}} = {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{m + 1}{s_{y{({i - 1})}}P_{yi}}}}$ associated with the sender is generated, wherein Inf_(s(m+1)) comprises a validity period for the recipient secret element; wherein said encrypting uses at least the information comprising Inf_((n+1)) and the lower-level key generation parameters Q_(yi) for i≧l and the sender secret element S_(y(m+1)), but does not use the lower-level key generation parameters Q_(yi) for i<l; and said decrypting uses at least the recipient private key and the lower-level key generation parameters Q_(zi) for i≧l and the recipient secret element S_(z(n+1)), but not the lower-level key generation parameters Q_(zi) for i<l.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first cyclic group

is an additive group of points on a supersingular elliptic curve or abelian variety, and the second cyclic group

is a multiplicative subgroup of a finite field.
 24. The method of claim 22, wherein encrypting the message M further includes: selecting a random parameter r; and encrypting the message M to generate the ciphertext C=[U₀, U_(l+1), . . . , U_(n+1), V], wherein U₀=rs_(B)P and U_(i)=rP_(zi) for 2≦i≦n+1, wherein V is an encryption of M using a value g_(yl) ^(r), wherein g_(yl)=ê(Q₀, P_(z1)), wherein s_(B)P is the recipient public key, and wherein ${g_{yl} = \frac{\hat{e}\left( {P_{0},S_{y{({m + 1})}}} \right)}{\prod\limits_{i = {l + 1}}^{m + 1}\; {\hat{e}\left( {Q_{y{({i - 1})}},P_{yi}} \right)}}};$  and decrypting the ciphertext C further includes recovering the message M using a ratio of (i) ê(U₀,S_(z(n+1))) and (ii) the product of values ê(Q_(z(i−1)),U_(zi)) from i=l+1 to i=n+1.
 25. A method of claim 24, wherein the first cyclic group

is an additive group of points on a supersingular elliptic curve or abelian variety, and the second cyclic group

is a multiplicative subgroup of a finite field.
 26. A method of claim 22, further comprising: selecting a third function H₃ capable of generating an integer of the cyclic group

/q

from a two strings of binary digits; and selecting a fourth function H₄ capable of generating one binary string from another binary string; wherein encrypting the message M further comprises: selecting a random binary string σ∈{0,1}^(n); computing a random integer r=H₃(σ, M); and generating the ciphertext C=[U₀, U_(l+1), . . . , U_(n+1), V, W], wherein U₀=rs_(B)P and U_(i)=rP_(zi) for 2≦i≦n+1, wherein V is an encryption of the message M using a value g_(yl) ^(r), wherein g_(yl)=ê(Q₀, P_(z1)), wherein s_(B)P is the recipient public key and wherein W=wherein W=E_(H4(σ))(M), E is a symmetric encryption scheme, and H_(4(σ)) is the key used with E, wherein ${g_{yl} = \frac{\hat{e}\left( {P_{0},S_{y{({m + 1})}}} \right)}{\prod\limits_{i = {l + 1}}^{m + 1}\; {\hat{e}\left( {Q_{y{({i - 1})}},P_{yi}} \right)}}};$  and wherein decrypting the ciphertext C further comprises: recovering the random binary string σ using a ratio of (i) ê(U₀,S_(z(n+1))) and (ii) the product of values ê(Q_((i−1)),U_(zi)) from i=l+1 to i=n+1; and recovering the message M using M=E¹ _(H4(σ))(W).
 27. A method of claim 26, wherein the first cyclic group

is an additive group of points on a supersingular elliptic curve or abelian variety, and the second cyclic group

is a multiplicative subgroup of a finite field.
 28. A method of claim 26, further comprising authenticating the ciphertext C by: computing an experimental random integer r′H₃(σ, M); and confirming that U₀=r′P₀ and Ui=r′P_(zi) for l+1≦i≦n+1.
 29. A manufacture comprising a computer-readable computer program operable to cause a computer to perform the encryption/decryption method of claim
 13. 30. The manufacture of claim 29 wherein the encryption/decryption method comprises the operation (Re).
 31. The manufacture of claim 29 wherein the encryption/decryption method comprises the operation (Se).
 32. A manufacture comprising, in computer-readable form, the ciphertext C generated by the encryption/decryption method of claim
 13. 33. A method for operating a public key encryption scheme which provides for operations (a) through (f) defined below, the public key encryption scheme providing for a sender, a recipient and n authorizers Au₁, . . . , Au_(n), wherein n≧2, wherein can decrypt a digital message from the sender only if the recipient possesses authorization from the authorizers, the method comprising at least one of operations (Re), (Se), (Au₁), . . . , (Au_(n)), wherein the operations (a) through (f) are as follows: (a) in the operation (Re), generating a recipient public key/private key pair for the recipient, wherein the recipient private key is a secret of the recipient; (b) for each i (1≦i≦n), in the operation (Au_(i)), generating a secret key s_(i) for the authorizer Au_(i), wherein the secret key s_(i) is known to the authorizer Au_(i); (c) for each i (1≦i≦n), in the operation (Au_(i)), generating a public key for the authorizer Au_(i), the public key being generated using at least the secret key s_(i) of the authorizer Au_(i); (d) for each i (1≦i≦n), in the operation (Au_(i)), generating a signature for the authorizer Au_(i) by signing a string of binary digits M_(i) with the secret key s_(i) of the authorizer Au_(i); (e) in the operation (Se), encrypting the digital message to form a ciphertext using at least the recipient's public key, the strings of binary digits M_(i) signed by the authorizers, and the public keys of the authorizers; (f) In the operation (Re), decrypting the ciphertext using at least the recipient's private key and the signatures generated by the authorizers.
 34. The method of claim 33, wherein at least one of the strings of binary digits M_(i) is related to a parameter determining a validity period of the signatures generated by the authorizers.
 35. The method of claim 34, wherein at least one of the strings of binary digits M_(i) is generated from information comprising the identity of the recipient.
 36. The method of claim 34, wherein at least one of the strings of binary digits M_(i) is generated from information comprising the recipient public key.
 37. The method of claim 36 wherein the method comprises the operation (Se).
 38. The method of claim 36 wherein the method comprises the operation (Re).
 39. The method of claim 33, wherein the public key encryption scheme defines: a first cyclic group

of elements and a second cyclic group

of elements; a non-degenerate bilinear pairing ê capable of generating an element of the second cyclic group

from two elements of the first cyclic group

; a generator P of the first cyclic group

; and a first function H₁ capable of generating an element of the first cyclic group

from a string of binary digits; wherein the public key of each authorizer Au_(i) is s_(i)P; wherein the signature for each authorizer Au_(i) is S_(i)=s_(i)P_(Mi) wherein P_(Mi) is a value of the function H₁ on data which depends on M_(i).
 40. The method of claim 39 wherein P_(Mi)=H₁(s_(i)P, M_(i)).
 41. The method of claim 39, wherein the first cyclic group

is an additive group of points on a supersingular elliptic curve or abelian variety, and the second cyclic group

is a multiplicative subgroup of a finite field.
 42. The method of claim 33 wherein the method comprises the operation (Se).
 43. The method of claim 33 wherein the method comprises the operation (Re).
 44. A manufacture comprising a computer-readable computer program operable to cause a computer to perform the method of claim
 33. 45. A manufacture comprising, in computer-readable form, the decryption key generated by the method of claim
 33. 46. A method for operating a public key encryption scheme which provides for operations (a) through (g) defined below, the public key encryption system providing for a sender, a recipient and a plurality of authorizers including at least a root authorizer Au₀ and n lower-level authorizers Au₁, . . . , Au_(n) in the hierarchy between the root authorizer and the recipient, wherein n≧1 and wherein the recipient can decrypt a digital message from the sender only if the recipient possesses authorization from the authorizers, the method comprising at least operations (Re), (Se), (Au₀), (Au₁), . . . , (Au_(n)), wherein the operations (a) through (g) are as follows: (a) in the operation (Re), generating a recipient public key/private key pair for the recipient, wherein the recipient private key is a secret of the recipient; (b) for each i (0≦i≦n), in the operation (Au_(i)), generating a secret key s_(i) for the authorizer Au_(i), wherein each secret key s_(i) is known to the authorizer Au_(i); (c) for each i (0≦i≦n), in the operation (Au_(i)), generating a public key for the authorizer Au_(i), the public key being generated using at least the secret key s_(i); (d) for each i (1≦i≦n), in the operation (Au_(j)) for some j<i, the authorizer Au_(j) certifying a document comprising the public key of the authorizer Au_(i) to generate a signature; (e) in the operation (Au_(n)), the authorizer Au_(n) certifying a document comprising the recipient public key; (f) in the operation (Se), encrypting the digital message to form a ciphertext using at least the recipient's public key and the public keys of the authorizers and the documents; and (g) in the operation (Re), decrypting the ciphertext using at least the recipient's private key and the signatures generated by the authorizers.
 47. The method of claim 46, wherein at least one of the certified documents is related to a parameter determining a validity period of the signatures generated by the authorizers.
 48. The method of claim 47 wherein the method comprises the operation (Se).
 49. The method of claim 47 wherein the method comprises the operation (Re).
 50. The method of claim 46, wherein the document comprising the recipient public key is generated from information comprising the identity of the recipient.
 51. The method of claim 46, wherein: a first cyclic group

1 of elements and a second cyclic group

2 of elements are generated; a non-degenerate bilinear pairing ê is selected which is capable of generating an element of the second cyclic group

from two elements of the first cyclic group

; a generator P of the first cyclic group

is selected; for each i (0≦i≦n), the public key of the authorizer Au_(i) is s_(i)P; a first function H₁ is selected with values in the first cyclic group

; for each i (1≦i≦n−1), an element P_(Mi) is generated for the lower level authorizer Au_(i), wherein P_(Mi)=H₁(s_(i)P,M_(i+1)) and wherein M_(i+1) is related to the identity and public key of the authorizer immediately below that authorizer in the hierarchy; and signing the elements P_(M1) to generate the signatures S_(i)=s_(i)P_(Mi).
 52. The method of claim 51, wherein the first cyclic group

is an additive group of points on a supersingular elliptic curve or abelian variety, and the second cyclic group

is a multiplicative subgroup of a finite field.
 53. The method of claim 46 wherein the method comprises the operation (Se).
 54. The method of claim 46 wherein the method comprises the operation (Re).
 55. A manufacture comprising a computer-readable computer program operable to cause a computer to perform the method of claim
 46. 56. A method for operating a public-key encryption scheme which provides for operations (a) through (d) defined below, the public-key encryption scheme providing for a sender, a recipient, and an authorizer, wherein a digital message is encrypted by the sender and decrypted by the recipient, the method comprising at least one of operations (Se), (Re), (Au), wherein the operations (a) through (d) are as follows: (a) in the operation (Re), generating a recipient public key/recipient private key pair, wherein the recipient private key is a secret of the recipient; (b) in the operation (Au), selecting a key generation secret known to the authorizer; (c) in the operation (Au), generating a recipient decryption key associated with time period i, wherein the recipient decryption key associated with time period i is related to the key generation secret, and wherein recipient decryption keys associated with time periods earlier than i, but not the recipient decryption keys associated with time periods later than i, can be generated from the recipient decryption key associated with time period i; (d) in the operation (Se), encrypting the digital message to form a ciphertext using at least the recipient public key, the time period parameter associated with time period i or a time period parameter associated with an earlier time period, and a recipient encryption key to create an encrypted digital message; (e) in the operation (Re), decrypting the ciphertext using at least the recipient private key and the recipient decryption key associated with time period i.
 57. The method of claim 56 wherein the recipient decryption key associated with time period i in related to information identifying the recipient.
 58. The method of claim 56 wherein the method comprises the operation (Se).
 59. The method of claim 56 wherein the method comprises the operation (Re).
 60. The method of claim 56 wherein the method comprises the operation (Au).
 61. A manufacture comprising a computer-readable computer program operable to cause a computer to perform the method of claim
 56. 62. A method for operating a public-key encryption scheme providing for operations (a) through (g) defined below, the public-key encryption scheme providing for a sender of a digital message, for a plurality of clients including a recipient of the digital message, and for an authorizer, wherein the digital message is encrypted by the sender and decrypted by the recipient, the method comprising at least one of operations (Se), (Re), (Au), wherein the operations (a) through (h) are as follows: (a) in the operation (Re), generating a recipient public key/recipient private key pair for the recipient, wherein the recipient private key is a secret of the recipient; (b) associating each client with a respective leaf node of a tree in which a non-leaf node is operable to have at least two child nodes; (c) for each node N1 which is either the recipient leaf node or the recipient leaf node's ancestor node, generating an encryption key associated with the node N1; (d) in the operation (Au), generating one or more authorizer's secrets known to the authorizer and comprising a first master secret s_(C); (e) in the operation (Au), generating a recipient decryption key associated with at least a selected node which is the recipient leaf node or an ancestor of the recipient leaf node, the recipient decryption key being also associated with the first master secret, wherein the selected node is not an ancestor of a leaf node associated with any client not authorized by the authorizer, wherein the recipient decryption key associated with the selected node forms a private key/public key pair with the encryption key associated with the selected node; (f) in the operation (Se), encrypting the digital message to create an encrypted digital message using at least the recipient public key and one or more of the encryption keys associated with the recipient leaf node and the recipient leaf node's ancestor nodes, the one or more of the encryption keys comprising the encryption key associated with the selected node; and (g) in the operation (Re), decrypting the encrypted digital message using at least the recipient private key and the recipient decryption key associated with the selected node.
 63. The method of claim 62 wherein the selected node is an ancestor of the recipient leaf node.
 64. The method of claim 62 wherein the tree is a B-tree.
 65. The method of claim 62, wherein the encryption key for at least the selected node is related to a validity period parameter defining a validity period for the recipient decryption key.
 66. The method of claim 65, further comprising generating a long-lived certificate for the recipient, wherein the certificate comprises the recipient public key, a value identifying the recipient, and the validity period parameter.
 67. The method of claim 62, wherein the nodes in the tree are associated with points on an elliptic curve or abelian variety.
 68. The method of claim 62, wherein the tree is a Merkle tree.
 69. The method of claim 62, wherein the operation (Au) comprises associating each node with an element P_(node) of a group

; wherein the recipient decryption key is related to a product of at least one of the authorizer's one or more secrets and the element P_(node) for the selected node.
 70. The method of claim 69, wherein the element P_(node) for the selected node is related to a validity period parameter defining a validity period for the recipient decryption key.
 71. The method of claim 62, wherein the operation (Au) comprises: generating a first cyclic group

of elements and a second cyclic group

of elements; selecting a non-degenerate bilinear pairing ê capable of generating an element of the second cyclic group

from two elements of the first cyclic group

; selecting a generator P of the first cyclic group

; generating a key generation parameter Q=s_(C)P; selecting a first function H₁ capable of generating an element of the first cyclic group

from a first string of binary digits; generating an element P_(node)=H₁(Inf_(B)) for at least each of m nodes defining the path from the recipient leaf node to the root node of the tree, wherein Inf_(B) is related to the node; wherein encrypting the digital message comprises: selecting a random key generation secret r; obtaining a value rP and also obtaining, for each node (and its value P_(node)) in the path from the recipient leaf node to the root inclusive, an encryption of the digital message using a value ê(P,P_(node))^(rs) ^(c) .
 72. The method of claim 71, wherein Inf_(B) is also associated with a validity period parameter defining a validity period for the recipient decryption key.
 73. The method of claim 71, wherein the first cyclic group

is an additive group of points on a supersingular elliptic curve or abelian variety, and the second cyclic group

is a multiplicative subgroup of a finite field.
 74. The method of claim 62 wherein the operation (Au) comprises associating each node with an element P_(node) of a group

; wherein the element P_(node) for the selected node is unrelated to a validity period parameter defining a validity period for the recipient decryption key, but the element P_(node) for at least one other node N_(time) is related to the validity period parameter; and the recipient decryption key is related to a sum of terms each of which is a product of one of the authorizer's secrets times the element P_(node) for a respective one of said nodes, the respective ones of said nodes including the selected node and said at least one other node N_(time).
 75. The method of claim 74 wherein the node N_(time) is the root node.
 76. The method of claim 75 wherein the recipient decryption key comprises values S_(C)P_(time)+xP_(snode) and xP wherein P_(time) is the P_(node) value for the node N_(time), the value x is one of the authorizer's secrets which is not the first master secret, the value P_(snode) is the P_(node) value for the selected node, and P is an element of the group

.
 77. The method of claim 76 wherein the group

is cyclic, and P is a generator of the group

.
 78. The method of claim 76 wherein encrypting the digital message comprises generating a random value r and determining: (i) value rP; (ii) values rΣP_(node) wherein each ΣP_(node) corresponds to a node N_(i) and is the sum of the P_(node) values for all the nodes in a path from the root node to a node N_(i) inclusive, wherein each node N_(i) is the recipient leaf node or an ancestor of the recipient leaf node; and (iii) a value which is an encryption of the digital message using a value ê(S_(C)P,P_(time))^(r), wherein ê is a predefined non-degenerate bilinear pairing which maps

×

into a group

, the bilinear pairing being known to the sender; wherein decrypting the digital message comprises the recipient obtaining the values (i) and (ii) and determining the value (iii) by dividing ê(rP,s_(C)P_(time)+xΣP_(node1)) by ê(xP,rΣP_(node1)), wherein ΣP_(node1) is the value ΣP_(node) defined in (ii) and corresponding to the selected node.
 79. The method of claim 62 wherein the recipient decryption key is an element of a group and is a sum of values each of which is a recipient decryption key generated for a respective period of time.
 80. The method of claim 62 wherein the method comprises the operation (Se).
 81. The method of claim 62 wherein the method comprises the operation (Re).
 82. The method of claim 62 wherein the method comprises the operation (Au).
 83. A manufacture comprising a computer-readable computer program operable to cause a computer to perform the method of claim
 62. 